The Good Care Group’s Post

Today's theme for #CarersWeek is work and employment - Carers should be able to work in an environment that supports them and recognises their role as a carer. https://lnkd.in/eUbaUmPV But there are about 500,000 people who are self-employed/freelance who are also unpaid carers, and who always seem to be missed in conversations and support around caring and work: https://lnkd.in/eQn8frjt #RealCarersWeek

It’s #CarersWeek, and we’re here to raise awareness of unpaid carers! So here are some key facts: 👉 There are 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK, although Carers UK research in 2022 estimates the number could be as high as 10.6 million. 👉 4.7% of the population in England and Wales are providing 20 hours of care a week. 👉 59% of carers are women. 👉 1 in 7 people in the workplace are juggling work and care. Did you know? #CarersNetwork #NoOneShouldCareAlone #UnpaidCarers #carers #awareness

Did you know there are more than 2.65 million unpaid carers in our community? This week AGLS celebrates National Carers Week. This year the theme is ‘Millions of Reasons to Care’. Carers make up nearly 11% of our population, and many combine paid work with caring for someone with disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or someone who is frail aged. In addition, in the 2021 APS Employee Census, 40% of APS employees responded that they have caring responsibilities. This National Carers Week Carers Australia are asking employers and workplaces to hire and support more carers. Benefits of employing and supporting Carers in the workplace include: 👍🏻 More diverse workforces 👍🏻 Increased productivity 👍🏻 Improved service delivery 👍🏻 Increased retention 👍🏻 Reduced rates of staff stress The Carers Week website has lots of resources on how to care for carers, get involved in Carers Week, and for carers themselves. Click the link below to learn more about National Carers Week and learn how to support the carers in your life. #NCW2023 #NationalCarersWeek #CarersSupport #CarersAustralia https://lnkd.in/dBwvuBn

🔦 Spotlight on Adult Care Services Carers play a vital role in supporting people across the county. Often, unpaid carers are balancing work commitments with their caring responsibilities. As an employer, we’re committed to supporting colleagues who are carers to help them combine work with care. We know that practical help can make a big difference, so we offer a range of leave options (including 5 days paid carers leave) and flexible working (where roles allow it). All our colleagues with caring roles can join the Carers Staff Network Group and are allowed time to attend meetings. We also ensure our managers are trained to support carers they line manage. We know that many people don’t see themselves are carers – if you are caring for a family member, friend or neighbour then please take a moment this #CarersWeek to find out what support is available: https://orlo.uk/FKP5t If you work with someone who is a carer, please share this link and information with them.

💛 National Carers Week 2024 - Putting carers on the map 💛 As a young carer in my teens to my Mum, I understand the sacrifice made to support and care for a loved one. I wouldn't have had it any other way. In the UK currently:   👉 Two thirds (65%) of adults have cared unpaid for a loved one, including 70% of women and 60% of men. 👉 The average person has a 50:50 likelihood of taking on caring responsibilities by 50 - long before they reach retirement age. 👉 On average, women can expect to take on caring responsibilities over a decade earlier than men. ...    The facts are staggering and with the impact of caring responsibilities for 50% of people by age 50 means this will impact their jobs and careers. To learn more about Carers UK and what they are doing to raise awareness this week, and beyond please visit their website – link in comments. #nationalcarersweek2024 #diversityandinclusion #carersuk

Last weeks poll results so far… I opened a poll to explore how many of your organisations were talking about unpaid carers, the responsibilities they face alongside balancing work, and support that’s available to them. So far, the poll results show the majority of organisations NEVER promote this internally. Yet, 1 in 7 people within the UK workforce have additional caring responsibilities. And the majority of these unpaid carers are women. So what could employers be doing differently? 💡Shine a light on the topic of unpaid caring responsibilities. Acknowledge the existence of employees that have additional caring responsibilities and that many unpaid carers often do not disclose their additional responsibilities for various reasons. 💫 Promote the support you already have in place for carers (including your organisations definition of what a carer is, and some examples of how this may apply) 🔍 Review your carers leave and support. How comprehensive is this? How does it compare to other organisations? What is the up take of this? What impact is it having on the intended recipients? 🙋🏻♀️ If you need help with any of the above, you can reach me at [email protected]. #workingfamilies #carers #carerssupport

Tomorrow marks the beginning of #CarersWeek - an entire week dedicated to 'putting carers on the map' Officially around 15% of the UK population juggle paid employment alongside caring at home. In reality I suspect that figure is considerably higher because many people who have a caring role at home don't recognise or acknowledge themselves as carers. Some of you might be supporting a sibling through recovery right now, or regularly accompanying your parent to their hospital appointments, or having to work around the care and support needs of your chronically ill child or spouse. If any of that sounds familiar, then the care and support you are providing is more than just an extension of your relationship with your loved one. You are in fact a carer. Unless we start to recognise the extent and range of caring responsibilities that so many of us and our colleagues have, we are unlikely to see these reflected in the workplace practices and policies. Caring will impact all our lives at some point (if it hasn't already) and employers across the country need to be ready to adapt and offer a more flexible and carer friendly working environment, otherwise many of us (predominantly women) will be forced to reduce our working hours or sadly walk away from our employment and careers for good.

🌟 Breaking Barriers for Skilled Family Carers in Ireland's Workforce 🌟 I just came across this thought-provoking article about the workforce shortage crisis in Ireland. 👩💼 https://lnkd.in/eUy92cDk It's disheartening to read about the shortages in various industries across the country. However, there's an incredible opportunity to address this crisis while also tapping into an immense pool of talent – Family Carers! 💪 Across Ireland, there are over 100,000 skilled & compassionate Family Carers who are often underutilized in the workforce. 🏡❤️ Employers, it's time to think creatively and inclusively. Offering 18.5 hour per week contracts can open doors for these Family Carers to join the workforce without compromising their caregiving responsibilities. 💼🌼 By doing so, we can bridge workforce gaps and empower Family Carers to contribute their expertise to various industries. It's a win-win solution that benefits both employers and this incredible group of professionals. Let's work together to create more inclusive opportunities in the job market and harness the potential of skilled Family Carers to strengthen our workforce and communities. 💬 Share your thoughts and ideas on how we can make this a reality! #InclusiveWorkforce #FamilyCarers #IrelandEmployment 🤝