Working for Carers | Carer Support Wiltshire

Lack of support in the workplace limits opportunities for unpaid carers

July 12, 2016 by Jules Stanbridge Leave a Comment

Working for Carers is urging Wiltshire employers to recognise the needs of their changing workforce and support unpaid carers.

New research launched for the recent national Carers Week found that where employers don’t have policies in place to support carers, seven in ten (72%) have given up work/reduced hours to care. 28% of carers reported not pursuing or turning down a promotion in order to be able to care. Findings also revealed a lack of understanding about their caring role has a negative effect on the health, wellbeing, relationships and finances.

Lizzie Rapley, from Working For Carers said:

“Nearly 1 in 9 employees combines caring for a loved one with a paid job, and that number is set to rise. In 2012 the Office for National Statistic predicted that, by 2022 there will be 700,000 fewer people aged 16-49, but 3.7 million more people aged 50-State Pension age - many of them will be carers. We’d like to see workplaces putting polices in place now and doing all they can to support and understand carers needs.”

Launched in July last year, Working For Carers was developed by local charity, Carer Support Wiltshire to help and encourage companies throughout the region to create a carer-friendly workplace and prepare for the needs of a changing workforce demographic.

One of several businesses to join this growing movement is John Williams Heating Services of Chippenham. Debbie Williams, co-owner of the business, said:

“John Williams Heating Services are proud to support Carer Support Wiltshire. We are firm believers in supporting our employees in all aspects of their lives.”

Other recent joiners include Swindon accountancy firm Banks BHG, Wiltshire recruitment agency 24/7 Staffing, regional care providers Mears Group and Somerset Care, and Bath ASU.

Carers cite their caring role as barrier to employment

February 22, 2016 by Jules Stanbridge Leave a Comment

In a recent study by Carer Support Wiltshire, half of all carers of a working age would like to increase the amount they work. 64% of those wanting to increase the amount they work were currently not taking steps to improve their situation, mainly because of their current emotional state, but also partly because of a lack of knowledge.

Two thirds of those wanting to increase the amount they work cited their caring role as the main barrier to employment. The lack of access to affordable care (for adults and children, including for children in the family without long term conditions) was commented on by many, and it is clear that support in how to find and access care, including funding for care, needs to be part of the Pathways To Work service which Carer Support Wiltshire is seeking to develop.

In terms of other areas of support needed by carers wishing to work more, this included:

advice on careers and training
help via telephone and email in CV writing and job hunting
support groups to help with job hunting, application and interview skills
access to computer skills courses
volunteering and placement opportunities
help with setting up and marketing your own business

This last area of support might also be useful to some carers who want to reduce the amount they work and who currently run their own business, where taking on an employee is seen as a barrier.

About 38% of carers of working age surveyed are currently not engaging in any paid work. A significant minority of carers, 16% of those responding, would like to reduce the amount they work, to improve their work life balance or devote more time to caring. Whilst not being able to do without the money is the main barrier for many in this situation, a quarter also feel that their job would be at risk if they requested a reduction in hours. This reality further illustrates the need for Working For Carers, to make employers more carer aware and carer friendly in their employment policies.

To find out about Working For Carers click here.

You can see the full results of our survey here: Survey of carers of working age 201601 report

Gala evening to promote county’s employers supporting carers

December 13, 2015 by Jules Stanbridge Leave a Comment

A gala evening to celebrate the progress Wiltshire employers are making towards accommodating employees who are carers is being staged in January.

The event in Devizes is being hosted by the county-based Working for Carers programme and celebrates the commitment employers have made to those on their workforce who are carers. It is also a chance for employers who’ve yet to join the programme to come along and discover more about it, and there will be an opportunity for businesses to network.

Working for Carers, which is run by Carer Support Wiltshire, was launched in July to highlight the number of carers among the county’s workforce, and to encourage employers to help them juggle their caring and work commitments. There are known to be around 47,500 carers in Wiltshire, many of whom will be in employment.

In its first six months, Working for Carers has attracted many employers, and Carer Support Wiltshire hopes the event on January 21, at Devizes Town Hall, will encourage more to sign up.

Catharine Hurford, chief executive of Carer Support Wiltshire, said employers were increasingly realising they risk losing valuable members of staff because of their care commitments.

“The majority of carers are aged between 45 and 64, many of them at the peak of their careers. Working for Carers is a programme designed to help businesses retain those people by enabling them to stay in work,” she said. “Working for Carers helps employers to become part of a network of responsible employers leading the way on recognition, equality, and inclusion in the workplace, helping them to create a culture of support and understanding for staff who are carers.”

Businesses which sign up to the Working for Carers charter can also apply for bronze, silver or gold status, and those which have successfully achieved this will be presented with awards during the event, which includes dinner and runs from 6-8.30pm.

Catharine added: “Although the programme is relatively new, it is attracting a lot of interest from employers and many have signed up. The programme is not just a tick in the box; it gives genuine support to employers who want to support their staff, creating a more inclusive working environment and, as a consequence, a more productive workforce.”

The event is open to all employers, not just those who have joined Working for Carers, and there will be an opportunity to network, before a sit-down dinner, guest speakers and awards presentation. Tickets cost £18 for WFC members, £26 for non-members (or £23 if booked early) and can be bought through http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/working-for-carers-gala-evening-tickets-19767442954

Visit Working for Carers for more information, call Carer Support Wiltshire’s free phone number 0333 006 2121 or email [email protected].

Lack of support in the workplace limits opportunities for unpaid carers

Carers cite their caring role as barrier to employment

Gala evening to promote county’s employers supporting carers

Legal

Tweets

Funders