Gloucestershire businesses can lead the way as caring workplaces

Gloucestershire

A Gloucestershire charity has launched a new project that aims to raise awareness of working carers across the county.

Crossroads Care Gloucestershire - which supports unpaid family carers and the people they care for with respite, day clubs, and in-home care across Gloucestershire, has secured funding to run a series of free Carer Awareness sessions for businesses of all sizes across the county.

The ‘Working Carer’ project will include specialists from the charity going into workplaces to provide valuable support, information, and advice for both the employer and those employees who are also working carers.

Businesses will also have the opportunity to work toward achieving accreditation as a ‘Gloucestershire Caring Workplace’, which above all else, will demonstrate their commitment to valuing and supporting their employees.

Estimates show the number of people in paid employment who also provide unpaid care has rocketed to more than 7 million since 2020, with up to 600 people every day feeling they have no other option but to leave their jobs to care for someone.

Helen Baker, CEO at Crossroads Care Gloucestershire, said: “All carers are copers but working carers are super copers. We find a lot tend to hide their care responsibilities as they don’t want it to affect how they are seen in the workplace. We want to work with businesses to help drive a culture where working carers feel supported and have the confidence to access all the help that’s available to them.”

Businesses signing up to Crossroads Care Gloucestershire’s caring workplace accreditation will receive specialist training to help recruit, support, and retain workers that juggle care responsibilities outside of work.

“Working carers across the county have told us the best place to receive support is through their workplace,” adds Helen. “And as demand for caregiving is only set to increase, Gloucestershire businesses have the chance to set the standard for being responsible, caring friendly employers.”

Lindsay Williams works full-time as a nurse at Charlton Lane Medical Centre in Cheltenham while also caring for her mum who has mixed dementia. She said: “It’s an immense pressure because you have a duty to do your job, but you also have a duty to your family. Everyone feels like they can cope and wait until they’re literally at breaking point to seek help.

“In my work I tell other working carers they need to have time out and look after themselves as it’s such stress while at work. There’s so much time spent thinking and organising for the person you care for. The feeling of responsibility is the hardest thing and your own needs get lower and lower down the priority list.”

Crossroads Care Gloucestershire’s Working Carers Project is funded by the Carers Trust ‘Making Carers Count’ programme, which aims to reach under-represented carer groups who may be lacking vital support and information. Businesses interested in finding out more can book a free 1-hour carer awareness session online at https://crossroadscareglos.org.uk/caring-workplaces or by calling 01452 933503 to find out more.

 

More details about Gloucestershire businesses can lead the way as caring workplaces (External Link)

 

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