On this page you will find information about:
- Support and guidance for those who would like to return to work.
- Education and training opportunities.
- Employment support from other organisations.
Anyone can have a gap in their employment no matter what their age, gender, background, or service history is. If you decide that you would like to return to work, there is support available to help you continue your employment journey.
Support and guidance
If you are unsure about how to return to work, or even whether you can, there is support available from a variety of organisations to help you understand your options and opportunities.
The returner toolkit from GOV.UK
The returner toolkit is an online extensive guide to support your return. The resource can be used from when you begin thinking about returning all the way through to securing a role and preparing to begin your new job.
The toolkit includes:
- top tips for returning to work
- introduction and overview- how to use the tool kit to support your return to work
- thinking about returning
- building your work confidence
- getting clear on your career direction
- updating your skills and knowledge
- preparing to return
- finding job opportunities
- exploring flexible options for employment
- writing your CV and cover letter
- returning to work
- getting ready to return to work
The Work and Health Programme - England and Wales
If you have a gap in your employment due to your, or a loved one's health, the Work and Health Programme may be able to help you find and keep a job. The support offered could help you identify your employment needs, and access training to help you find work and manage your health to reduce its impact on your work.
Eligibility
You do not have to be receiving benefits to be able to apply for this programme.
Those who are eligible to apply include those who are:
- living with a disability
- out of work
- a carer or former carer
- legally homeless
- a former member of His Majesty's (HM) Armed Forces
- a member of the HM Armed Forces Reserves
- the partner of a current or former member of HM Armed Forces
- a care leaver
- a young person in a gang or at risk of being involved with a gang
- a refugee
- a victim of domestic violence
- dependent (or have been dependent) on drugs or alcohol and it's preventing you from getting work
- an ex-offender and you've completed a custodial or community sentence, or
- an offender serving a community sentence.
Returning to work as a carer for someone living with a disability or an older person
If you have decided that you want to combine your caring with work, or your caring role has ended, there is guidance, support, and training available to help you.
Carers UK
The charity Carers UK understands the enormous contribution that carers make to society and is here to support them. In addition to offering advice and support, the charity also works to connect carers across the UK.
Carers UK has a variety of resources available to help carers who want to return to work. This support includes:
- Guidance for if you are thinking of returning to work.
- Support for your life after caring.
- How to manage paid work and caring.
Returning to work after caring for a child/children
Returning to the workplace after taking a gap to care for children can be a stressful time for many reasons. There is support here to help you balance your time, support your family, and figure out what your options are.
Financial support with childcare - England, Northern Ireland, and Wales
You may be eligible for help paying for childcare from the government. This support is available for childcare provided by an approved childcare service such as:
- registered childminder, nanny, play scheme, nursery or club
- childminder or nanny with a registered childminder agency or childcare agency
- registered school, or
- home care worker working for a registered home care agency.
Learn more about the childcare that you could get support with paying for on GOV.UK.
Read more about managing your finances while caring for children on the RBL Knowledge Base website.
Financial support with childcare - Scotland
You may be able to receive support with childcare provided by individuals and organisations registered with the Care Inspectorate, known as 'registered childcare'.
You could receive support with:
- Up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning or childcare a year if your child is three or four years old.
- You may also be eligible for support if your child is two and has experienced care or if you receive certain benefits.
Working Families
The charity Working Families has a range of guidance available to support your return to work and parents/carers who are already working.
Read guidance to support your return to work on the Working Families website.
Living with a disability and returning to work - physical and mental health conditions
Having to consider the limitations and needs of the disability that you are living with can feel overwhelming when looking for employment.
Both physical and mental health conditions can be considered a disability.
- Learn more about when a mental health condition becomes a disability on GOV.UK.
- Read the definition of a disability under the Equality Act 2010 on GOV.UK.
Disability Confident employers
The Disability Confident scheme is challenging employers to think differently about disability and change how they recruit, retain, and develop the roles of people who are living with a disability in their employment.
When you are looking for work, you can check on job adverts and application forms for the 'disability confident' symbol. This means that the employer is committed to employing people who are living with a disability, and you will be granted an interview if you meet the basic conditions for the job.
Find out more about the disability confident employer scheme on GOV.UK.
Applying for a job
GOV.UK has online guidance to support you when searching and applying for jobs as someone who is living with a disability or long-term health condition.
The advice given includes:
- Getting help from your local Jobcentre to help you find roles and gain new skills.
- The Access to Work Scheme, which could help if you need communication support for your job interview.
- The Work and Health Programme, to help you find and keep a job.
- What to do if you are asked questions about your health or disability during a job application or interview.
- What to do if you are treated unfairly when you apply for a job.
Learn about what to do when you are looking for work if you are living with a disability on GOV.UK.
More support on the Knowledge Base
We have created a helpful online resource to support your employment journey.
Benefits that you may be receiving
If you are receiving a benefit, you will need to inform the government of the change in your circumstances when you begin a new role. This is to ensure that you are receiving the correct amount of benefits.
If you do not report the change straight away, or give incorrect information, your claim may be stopped or reduced.
Additionally, if you do not report a change or mistake you may be paid too much which may mean that you have to pay some of the money back and/or a £50 penalty.
Learn more about how to report a change in your circumstances on GOV.UK.
Finding job advertisements, creating your CV and preparing for interviews
When applying for most positions you will need to supply an up-to-date CV. You may also be asked for a cover letter. Many employers may also ask you to attend an online or in-person interview.
There is plenty of advice and guidance online to help you create these and prepare for the interview process.
Read the GOV.UK on writing a CV and cover letter, which is part of the returner toolkit guide.
Find out more about finding and applying for jobs on the RBL Knowledge Base website.
Addressing your career break in your CV and during interviews
It can be hard when a potential employer asks you to explain a career break, but a gap in employment doesn't have to be seen as a problem. Being able to answer the question confidently can help you to show your potential as a prospective employee.
Read about explaining gaps in your work history on the National Careers Service website.
Looking for flexible employment
Please note that the laws around working flexible hours are due to change in the Spring of 2023. The Flexible Working Bill will give workers the right to request flexible working from day one or a new job.
Find out more about the Flexible Working Bill on GOV.UK.
When you are planning to return to work, you may find that flexible working will suit your needs and responsibilities better.
Examples of flexible employment are:
- Working remotely - usually from home.
- Having flexible start and finish times - known as flexitime, this is when you can choose when you start and finish workaround certain 'core hours'.
- Working part-time - usually by working fewer days.
- Compressed hours - which is when you work full-time hours but over fewer days.
- Annualised hours - when you will need to work a certain number of hours over the year, but you have some flexibility about when you work.
- Staggered hours - when you have a different start, finish, and break time from other workers.
- Phased retirement - which allows you to reduce your hours and work part-time.
Flexible working may be advertised in a job application, or, in England, Scotland, and Wales, you may request flexible working from your first day in job.
In Northern Ireland, you must have worked for an employer (not as an agency worker) for at least 26 weeks continuously unless you are returning from a period of parental leave or are a member of the Armed Forces. Additionally, you cannot have made another application to work flexibly under the right during the past 12 months.
All employees have the right to ask for flexible working, not just parents and carers.
Reporting problems in the civilian workplace
Working in civilian employment you may come across situations or disputes that make your daily life difficult.
This may be something you find hard to approach as an ex-service person but there is guidance available to help you to resolve workplace conflicts.
England
Northern Ireland
Visit the nidirect website to learn about:
- Grievances procedures - raising concerns, problems, or complaints to an employer.
- Accidents in the workplace.
- Blowing the whistle on workplace wrong doing.
- Bullying in the workplace.
- Workplace disputes.
- Your rights in the civilian workplace.
Scotland
Wales
Education and training opportunities
You may feel that you would benefit from training or education to reach your career goals when returning to work. The organisations below may be able to support you to gain the qualifications you need.
Women's section grants - support for those in financial need with educational costs
The President's Award Scheme allocates educational grants to those in financial need.
The financial support could help with a range education related costs including:
- course fees
- public transport costs to attend courses
- textbooks
- course equipment (stethoscopes, chemistry equipment, etc)
- laptops
- printers
- software (relevant to course)
- specialist clothing, or
- childcare costs linked to course attendance.
To find out more about the support the RBL could offer you, contact us via
Telephone: 0808 802 8080
Telephone overseas: +44 (0)20 3376 8080
Calls are free
from UK landlines and main mobile networks
Email: [email protected]
Support from other organisations
Forces Employment Charity
The Forces Employment Charity will support anyone who has served one day or more in HM Armed Forces, including reservists.
With support delivered by experienced advisors, who are often from the Armed Forces Community, the charity may be able to support you with:
- advice on career choices
- researching the job market
- job matching
- advice on training
- recommendations for courses and education
- support for writing a CV
- advice on interview techniques
- expert industry knowledge and updates
- events and employment fairs.
Op ASCEND – employment support for veterans and their families
Op Ascend is an Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) programme which is delivered by the Forces Employment Charity.
The programme provides veterans and their families with opportunities to gain meaningful employment. This includes support with CV writing, interview preparation, employment fairs and advice on setting up a business.
Get in touch
Visit the Forces Employment Charity website, or
Telephone: 01212 623 058
Email: [email protected]
