Employment boost for thousands of parents on Universal Credit could result is the opposite

THOUSANDS of parents on Universal Credit will be supported to increase their chances of getting a job or up their work hours from:- Wednesday, 25 October 2023.

Parents of 3 to 12 year olds will agree with their Work Coach to spend more time in work or applying for jobs, up to a maximum of 30 hours a week. Commitments will be tailored to parents' personal circumstances, including:- the availability of childcare. Alongside local Jobcentre support, this action could include:- time updating CVs or developing skills through courses and workshops.

The move comes after the UK Government boosted childcare support for low income families, with up front and increased costs of up to:- £951 a month for 1 child and:- £1,630 for 2 or more children; a near 50% increase on the previous Universal Credit childcare offer.

Eligible parents who increase their working hours are now also receiving up to 85% of their upfront childcare costs back before their next month's bills are due, helping them cover costs 1 month in advance going forward. Prior to these changes many low income families struggled with upfront childcare bills, making it harder for them to move into work.

Over half a million parents are set to benefit from these improved work chances, building on changes announced in July for parents with young children to meet their Work Coach more often.

Work is the best way to move out of poverty. According to the latest figures, working age adults living in workless households are over 7 times more likely to be in absolute poverty after housing costs than working age adults in households where all adults work.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said:- "We are pulling down barriers that stop parents working and fulfilling their potential, because we know full time work not only benefits mum and dad but the whole family too. These changes will support thousands on their back to work journey. We're backing working families, and as they step up for their careers, we are taking action to halve inflation, grow the economy and make everyone's money go further."

1 person to already benefit from changes to conditionality is Kacee from Gateshead. Kacee who is 19 is a single parent of a 1 year old son who has already started to meet more frequently with her Work Coach. Since August, she has tapped into the more generous childcare costs through Universal Credit and is now working as a retail assistant part time.

Households are at least:- £6,000 a year better off in full time work than out of work on benefits, according to data covering the impact of moving onto Universal Credit and since 2010, there are almost 700,000 fewer children growing up in workless households, transforming their life chances.

49% of non-working mothers also say if they could arrange good quality childcare they would prefer to be employed, according to a Department for Education childcare and early years survey.

Those impacted will see updates to their expected Work Related Activity which include:-s:- searching and applying for jobs, updating CVs, and developing transferable skills through workshops. All activity is designed to prepare parents to increase their likelihood of getting a job or increasing their hours.

Already many are warning that the new Universal Credit schemes:- "could push people into jobs that are really, really not suitable for them." In reality many business leaders are questioning the Universal Credit policies that many of them fear are running the risk of pushing many workers and small business owners to the brink of poverty. Plus many self employed and small business owners are worried that this latest push might hit them hard. Already, many small businesses are under extreme pressure and many small business owners have been hit with requirements to:- "look for work" that could force them to close the business and put more people out of work.

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Mersey Care launch new children's and adolescent 24/7 mental health crisis response team

CHILDREN and young people based in:- Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington up to the age of 18 who are experiencing a mental health crisis will have access to a dedicated 24/7 team for the 1st time.

The new crisis response team, based within Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's Child and Young People's Mental Health Service, will help those under 18 who need an emergency response and aims to provide a risk assessment within 4 hours.

The service is available to anyone registered with a GP in:- Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington. Since it went live in August it has had an immediate impact, with 144 emergency referrals in its 1st month and 217 in September.

Lisa Simpson, Mersey Care's Clinical Services Manager for Children and Young People's Mental Health Services, said:- "The aim of the team is to provide crucial support to children, young people and families when they are in crisis and at their most vulnerable. We want to be able to help reduce the pressure on accident and emergency departments and possibly avoid the need to detain individuals for their own safety; we've already seen plenty of people make use of it."

The service will provide:-

• Advice and consultation to professionals, parents, carers and children and young people.
   

• Emergency assessment and follow up.
   

• Brief intervention and home treatment.

The team works in partnership with social care, Schools and other professionals to ensure children and young people stay safe.

The service can be contacted on:- 01744415640, and is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.