We all know being a parent, bringing up children and running a home is hard work, but when the Government talks about getting parents into work they mean paid work outside the family home.

As a working parent you effectively have two jobs; caring for your family and earning the household income. It takes a lot of determination and organisation to successfully combine the two and to manage the demands placed on you. It is therefore important to take your time with planning your move into paid work and figuring out how you can manage work and home responsibilities and maintain a good quality of life for you and your family. We’ve set out some advice on things to consider when you begin to plan ahead for looking for work.

Work-life balance

As a parent it will be crucial for you to strike the right balance between your work and home life. You will need to make sure you’re able to look after your children, and what you need from your work-life balance will depend on how many children you have, their ages and whether you have any support from family members/friends etc. Many jobs and employers now offer more flexible, parent-friendly working schedules but make sure you’re clear about how much time you can dedicate to your job and how much time you need for parenting. This way, both you and your potential employer will know where you stand and will be able to work out the best arrangement for both of you.

Childcare

Find out about childcare options before you accept any job offer. This is especially important if you have children who are not yet in school. Depending on your hours of work you may need to find adequate before or after school care for your children. For children in secondary school you may not feel the need to get formal childcare, but it’s a good idea to think about what your children will do while you’re at work, as well as what will happen during school holidays. It may be that you can find work which fits in around school times or is only during term time, or you may feel that your children are responsible enough to be at home alone while you are at work, but you will need to ensure that their safety and wellbeing is prioritised at all times.

Finances

Going back to work will normally mean a boost in household finances. However make sure you think about the costs of commuting between home and work, childcare and meals away from home. Sometimes these costs can add up and leave you worse off. Plan ahead and work out the impact that returning to paid work will have on your finances. This might seem daunting, but help is available from your local Jobcentre Plus, where you can do a ‘better off in work calculation’. With regards to benefits, many single parents are entitled to ‘in work’ benefits, so you won’t necessarily lose all your current benefits, although they will change.

Mind set

One of the most important things for anyone applying for work is their mind set, and whether you feel ready to return to work. If you’ve been out of a job for a while, it’s natural to feel a little nervous about returning to work, but remember that even in your time out you developed skills and experience which you can now transfer into the workplace. As a parent you will have many of these transferable skills, which you’ll have used to look after your home and family. If you feel worried that you don’t have enough skills, going back into education or doing some volunteering will help build your confidence paid job prospects.

Try not to be put off by the process as there are many good reasons to return to work, from being financially better off, being a great role model for your children, getting out and meeting people and making new friends, developing your own career and hopefully finding something you’re passionate about and enjoy doing.

Remember: do your research, consider all your options, plan ahead and make sure you’ve worked out a way to achieve a work-life balance that will work for you.