Childcare Affordability Programme (CAP) 2
Transition to Employment
What is Childcare Affordability Programme 2?
Childcare Affordability Programme 2 aims to remove barriers to employment. It provides funding to be used for childcare when parents are:
- Seeking work
- Starting work
- Training
- Doing work experience/volunteering
There is also additional support for parents who require subsidised care for children with special educational needs and emergency childcare services.
How does it work?
Seeking work:
The cost of part-time childcare can be covered for up to 2.5 days per week for a period of 2-3 months while parents are seeking work, to allow them to attend interviews or other job seeking appointments.
If parents are successful in obtaining work they can then be transferred to the starting work element.
Evidence of eligibility:
- Income support/Job seeker's allowance letter
- Passport, proof of address, child identification i.e. birth certificate or passport. Income support letter and tax credit letter
Starting work:
This provides the cost of childcare for parents going back to work after a period of unemployment enabling them to afford to pay for childcare before their first pay cheque and/or Working Tax Credit payments begin.
100% of childcare costs can be paid for the first 4 weeks of employment. 50% can be provided for a second 4 week period if awaiting Working Tax Credit.
Evidence of eligibility:
- Letter of job offer which specifies the salary, hours, starting date and length of contract
- Self-employed parents should provide evidence of their self employed status
- Passport, proof of address, child identification, income support letter, tax credit award letter
Training:
The cost of childcare can be covered for those undertaking vocational training courses including NVQs, English for speakers of other languages and other basic/life skills but the emphasis must be on access to employment. One of the ways to evidence this is to combine a course with 2 hours a week of work experience.
Evidence of eligibility:
- Proof from training provider of enrolment, confirmation of course title, course length and timetable. If timetable changes parent must provide signed evidence
- If parent requires childcare for study days they must provide signed evidence that it is required
- Course duration should be 12 months maximum. Funding could only have been provided until 31 December 2008 and parents will need to provide evidence that they can fund their childcare after that date to enable them to complete their course
- Basic skills courses will be considered. However the parent must agree to actively seek work upon completion of the course
- Passport, proof of address, child identification, income support letter, tax credit award letter
Volunteering and work experience:
Funding for childcare costs is available when parents take up a work placement or volunteering which will increase their experience and employability and help reduce barriers to employment.
The cost of 100% of childcare could have been provided for agreed placement hours for the duration of the placement up until 31 December 2008.
If the parent leaves the placement prior to the end of the agreed period the funding will remain in place for a month after their last day of attendance (this will ensure continuity of care) or until the end of the agreed funding period, whichever is the shorter.
Evidence of eligibility:
- Passport, proof of address, child identification, income support letter, tax credit award letter
- Offer of work placement
- Confirmation of placement hours, role and duration
- Must provide confirmation of intent to find work after placement/volunteering
Who is eligible for the scheme?
General criteria applying to all areas of funding:
- The parent must be over 16
- Children must be between 0-14 years old
- The parent must be resident in Greater London
- The parent must have recourse to public funds
- The parent must have been unemployed or working part-time for longer than a month to qualify, as it is targeted at those parents in longer term worklessness
- The maximum income should be £35,000 per annum for a single person and £50,000 per annum for joint household income
- Childcare Affordability Programme funding is aimed at parents who cannot access funding from other agencies, such as Jobcentre Plus and Tax Credits. Other avenues of funding will be explored before Childcare Affordability Programme funding will be considered
- All childcare funding must be 100% through Childcare Affordability Programme
- Parents undertaking training should make a clear, convincing case for their course providing them with a definite and clear transition to employment upon completion
- The parent must be able to demonstrate that they will be able to meet the cost of childcare when Childcare Affordability Programme funding finishes. This was currently scheduled for 31 December 2008 but may be extended
- If increasing working hours and applying for funding, parents should be aware that this will have an implication for Working Tax Credit or other benefits. Welfare Benefits Advisers/Jobcentre Plus should be consulted by the parent before applying and this should be indicated on the application form
- Registration fees for childcare cannot be funded
How do I apply for funding?
Fill in an application form.
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Please complete and return to:
Michelle Maddocks
Integrated Family Services
3rd Floor
Bridge House
150 London Road
Barking
IG11 8BB
Alternatively the application form can be emailed to training7@lbbd.gov.uk. If sending electronically you will also be required to send a hard copy by post with supporting documentation.
You can also get help with completion of the form and other advice around employment plus a 'Better off at work' calculation from the Welfare Benefits Adviser. A full timetable of operation within children's centres is available on the children's centre web pages.
Useful contacts:
- The Welfare Benefits Adviser (telephone 020 8252 5340) is available through your local children's centre|
- Any of your local children's centre staff
- Job Centre Plus, Barking or Dagenham (telephone 01708 774 000)
- Jobnet - Vicarage Field (telephone 020 8594 2632)
