Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has a carer's policy for its employees; and what other steps his Department has taken to support employees with caring responsibilities.

Work is underway to explore the implementation of a Carer’s policy in 2018. Carers are, however, entitled to apply for paid special leave and/or unpaid career breaks as set out the special leave policy and can access support and counselling through our Employee Assistance Programme.

Cabinet Office recognises the importance of supporting carers in the workplace, and has recently signed up to a 3rd year of membership to Employers for Carers, a website enabling employees to access online tools, training and support, backed up by specialist knowledge from Carers UK - Cabinet Office Charity of the Year in 2015.

In addition, we have also established a Carer’s Network, championed at a senior level, with the aim of providing support and advice to employees with caring responsibilities. We encourage blog posts to raise awareness of carers in the workplace, actively promote initiatives such as Carer’s Week, and The Charity for Civil Servants also offers an advisory service to Carers within the Civil Service.