Sefton Carers Centre provides support and advice to unpaid carers living in Sefton, including those in full or part-time employment.
If you would like to discuss any issues or concerns that you have with either your informal caring or employed role please telephone 0151 288 6060 or use our contact page here.
Please see below for a range of resources and information that you may find useful - ranging from support and advice for carers in full-time employment, to guidance for employers looking to support their staff.
Did you know that as a carer in employment you are entitled to a Carer's Assessment?
If you would like to complete a Carer's Assessment please contact the Carers Support Team on 0151 288 6060 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 4.30pm) or via our contact page.
Support and Information for Carers
Being a carer does not mean that you have to give up work. One in eight people in work is a carer and over half of carers who are not working say that they would like to. However caring can make working difficult and one in five carers ends up stopping work.
£5.3bn has been wiped from the economy in lost earnings due to people who've dropped out of the workforce to take on caring responsibilities.
"When there is a lack of flexibility at work it can lead to stress and anxiety, absence, tiredness, isolation and loneliness"
- Carers UK and Employers for Carers 2015
If you work you should tell your employer that you are a carer. They may have carer friendly policies that help you achieve a better work/life balance.
Right to flexible working
If you find it difficult to balance your work life with your caring responsibilities (and your
other commitments) you may want to ask for flexible working.
Dealing with change
When there is a big change in the condition of the person you care for, your work life can be seriously disrupted and you may recognise that you are going to have to ask for some help. Find out more about dealing with change.
Taking time off in an emergency
You’re allowed to take time off to deal with an emergency involving a dependant.
This is known as ‘time off for dependants’ and it could be a spouse, partner, child, grandparent, parent or someone who depends on you for care. Read more...
Talking about your caring role at work
Whether you decide to tell your employer you are a carer or not is up to you.
You have a right to privacy and confidentiality. You do not have to tell your employer about your caring role unless you feel comfortable doing so. Read more...
Click on the information video below from the Carers & Human Rights YouTube channel
Further Information & Useful Web Links for Carers
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) provides free and impartial information for employers and employees on their website: www.acas.org.uk
Carers UK offer free advice and guidance to help 6000+ carers across the UK. Click here to visit the Carers UK 'Your Statuatory Rights In Work' web page. Alternatively, please visit www.carersuk.org
Working Families is a charity that specialises in advice about flexible working and part-time working for parents and carers. Click here for more information
If you would like to discuss any issues or concerns that you have with either your informal caring or employed role please telephone 0151 288 6060 or use our contact page here.
Guidance & Support for Employers
Employers for Carers
www.employersforcarers.org
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Telephone: 020 7378 4956
Employers for Carers is a partner organisation of Carers UK and offers advice to employers about identifying carers in the workplace, managing staff carer networks, directing staff to other sources of support outside the workplace and providing practical solutions to combining work and care.
Employers for Carers also offer training opporutnities in employment law, carers rights, flexible working and managing stress.
Why does this affect you as an employer?
Current legislation gives carers rights to request flexible working and time off to manage working and caring better. Supporting employees with caring responsibilities is becoming a more critical social issue.
What are the benefits of supporting working carers better?
- Lower staff turnover and retention of valued, skilled, experienced staff
- Reduced recruitment and training costs – losing experienced staff increases costs as skilling up new staff takes time and can cause business interruption
- Lower absence rates
- Greater productivity and continuity due to higher staff morale, commitment and motivation
- Competitive advantage – carer friendly policies and working practices make it easier to attract people with specialist skills
For more information please visit: https://www.employersforcarers.org/carer-confident/what-are-the-benefits
How can we help you?
We want to work with you to help carers stay in work. We can:
- Help you identify carers in your workplace and develop ‘carer-friendly’ policies and working practices
- Provide training, information and advice to you and your employees, so they feel better equipped in their caring role
- Help set up staff carer networks and groups
- Set up networking events, so good practice can be shared across organisations
- Set up an accreditation scheme with you, so you can promote the support you provide to carers
