London employers lack care advice
Ross Watson
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Local authorities in London need to adopt a more co-ordinated approach to providing employers with all the information required to support their employees' childcare needs, according to research seen by CYP Now.
In a survey conducted by the London Development Agency (LDA), 44 per cent of London's 100 biggest employers admitted to not knowing anything about their local family information services, while 56 per cent were not promoting the Working Tax Credit.
Denise Burke, head of childcare at LDA, said it was not only the responsibility of councils, but also employers, to ensure childcare support services are improved.
"I think there is a huge role for local authorities to play with smaller employers, but it is so much harder when you are dealing with large corporate employers that are spread across all 33 London boroughs," she said.
The LDA has suggested a single approach involving all boroughs may be the most effective way to provide information to employers.
A spokesman for London Councils said: "A pan-London approach could prove successful in promoting families information services."
The Survey of London Employers to Support Local Authority Childcare Sufficiency Assessments was conducted among 17 local authorities. The LDA conducted the survey after only half of all London boroughs submitted the views of local employers in their original Childcare Sufficiency Assessments.
