ClickAJob News

Single parents looking to find jobs may find that new benefit rules introduced in parliament yesterday are of use to them.

Under proposals first outlined by John Hutton in a green paper in January 2006, lone parents with older children will have contact with a Jobcentre Plus employment adviser for support.

They may also receive additional training and childcare support to prepare for entering employment.

Secretary of state James Purnell said: "Work is the best route out of poverty and these reforms will offer lone parents access to a range of support to help move into paid work and stay there."

Previously, single parents could claim income support until their youngest child was 16. From November those with children over the age of 12 will receive Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance instead.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph last month Gordon Brown pledged to provide nursery school places for 600,000 toddlers in a bid to get parents back to work.

ClickAJob Marketing Manager Anders Jensen is hot on employing single parents.
"Life is hard for them which makes them focused," he says.

"No under-performers here, they have life-time responsibilities that make them committed – they're high-value employees with real purpose in their job roles."

"Sure, employing single parents is a bit of a trade-off with time out to cope with children," he continues.

"But allow them reasonable leeway and you'll have them eating out of your hand."