Civil Service Carers Network (CSCN)

The CSCN is a network of networks, which brings together carers networks from across the civil service to:
a) work together to share knowledge and resources, so we can maximise the network support available to our carers.
b) promote a carer-inclusive civil service and act as a critical friend, to help the Civil Service develop and improve policy approaches for supporting our carers. 

Network support

In 2019 we targeted our efforts on identifying all carers networks and invited them to join us, so we could maximise our impact and drive consistency of network support. We also identified gaps in network provision and sought out volunteers and contacts to try and encourage network development.
For all new and existing networks we provide example documentation to help them to get going, ideas for ways of working, training on wider civil service issues and standard presentations to help support outreach. 
We’ve also coordinated carers week events across the UK In June 2019 and 2020 and held a ‘Celebrating Carers’ events for Carers rights day 2019, promoting understanding and engagement.

A critical friend

In early 2019 the CSCN highlighted key areas, which we felt the civil service needed to focus on in order to build a carer-inclusive civil service. This led to a commission from the Government Chief People Officer for CSCN to work with CSHR teams to create a carers strategy. 

Throughout 2019 we worked with our specialist colleagues to pull together proposals, continually testing the ideas with our network committees (and their champions) to ensure they were fit for purpose. We were delighted when the strategy was launched in February 2020, and the fuller update in June, and are already working to support the implementation of the commitments made.