Three out of five people will become a carer at some stage of their lives, many of whom do so overnight whilst still holding down a full-time job. Working and caring are each stressful in themselves and doing both often feels impossible.
Support while working
During the carers assessment your needs in regards to work, training, education or leisure is taken into account and social care will help with care so that you do not have to give up work. However, we cannot usually cover a full working week, but in many cases much less than this is needed and a combination of services could be provided.
Following an assessment a number of facilities can be provided to give you confidence to continue at work. This could include personal care for the cared for person, as well as for example equipments, meals delivered to the home, telecare movement sensors and community alarm services.
In addition to the Work and Families Act 2006 that gives carers the right to request flexible working hours, many employers already have policies which are sympathetic to carers, such as:
- Allowing to make and receive regular calls with the person they care for whilst at work
- Offering additional domestic or home leave
- Approval to attend medical appointments of the cared for person in work time
- Flexible start and finish times
- Flexibility over the working week, such as reducing hours for a temporary period
Thinking of leaving work
Three million carers currently combine the normal stresses of a paid job with the exacting demands of caring, but this takes its toll. Explore your options if you are thinking about leaving work at the Carers UK website.
Looking for work
If you are a carer and looking for work, find out more about the assistance, advice and training you may need on Carers UK website.
Planning your Future – this booklet offers advice to carers all about returning to work, training and education, or remaining in work, call 0113 224 3991 for a copy. Or you can see and download the booklet from the right hand panel of this page.
IGEN Future Pathways – offer career guidance, tel 0845 307 3377, 15 East Parade, LS1 2BH
For other pages in this section, useful web addresses, leaflets and contacts please follow the links on the right.
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