Interhousehold mixing is currently banned in some areas
under local restrictions, including parts of the North
West, North East, and Bolton and Leicester. From
Tuesday 22 September care bubbles will be able to form
in areas of intervention, to allow families to share
caring responsibilities with another household.
Today’s announcement recognises that the current
restriction of interhousehold mixing in areas of local
intervention could cause hardship for families, and may
affect the ability of essential workers, such as NHS
front line staff, to do their job. The introduction of
care bubbles will allow informal childcare arrangements
to continue with another household, as long as they are
consistent. One-off arrangements, such as a play date,
will not be included.
Health and Social Care Secretary, ,
said:
I know how vital all types of childcare are for
family life. Whether a friend, relative, or a
professional carer, it is essential that our children
or dependents are well looked after and loved.
I have listened to concerns that have been raised
around the ban on interhousehold mixing in place for
local areas of intervention, and have now introduced
a provision for those looking after children under
the age of 14. Informal care can also continue for
vulnerable adults. I truly sympathise with everyone
who lost those vital extra hands to care for a child
or loved one, and I hope that this eases their
burden.
Approximately a third of children in England aged 0 to
4 used informal childcare in 2019. The new exemption
means that a relative or friend can now care for a
child or vulnerable adult from a different household,
as well as the formal childcare provided by registered
childcare professionals.
This exemption will come into force for all areas under
current restrictions to ban household mixing, and all
future areas. Exemptions for registered childcare
already exists, with today’s announcement extending to
informal childcare arrangements.
