NHS Furlough

[Shellie]

First time asking for advice!

I’m a single mum with a 5 year old boy who has no contact with his father ( Father’s choice)

I’m an NHS Keyworker and my son has attended school throughout Lockdown however now schools are re opening the school hours are different to accommodate ‘The Bubbles’.

My work have been brilliant and are allowing me to spread my hours over 5 days so I can take him to school and pick him up since there’s no wrap around care.

I’m looking to the Summer Holidays where I will have no access to Childcare or no family to help me out with current Government Guidelines. Today I asked my employer if I could consider being Furloughed for the holidays but was told NHS staff are not allowed to be part of this scheme.

It’s a bit of a long shot but has anyone else come across this?

Regards Shellie

[Mijulie]

Hi Shellie,

My understanding is that the furlough scheme doesn’t apply to posts funded by the public sector, so your employer is right that you wouldn’t be eligible. Sorry not to have better news for you. Could you see if there are any other single parents of young children at your work, and maybe get a group of mum’s together where you help each other out over the holidays? Even people who do have family nearby will be the same boat as any grandparents are likely to be saying no to  childcare just now. Also worth checking what the school are doing over the summer as presumably other key workers will also be in the same boat, I know my son’s school has been running holiday provision for key workers throughout easter and half term.

Julie

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