Awards for county’s ‘caring’ bosses

TREMENDOUS sacrifices made by Carmarthenshire’s silent army of 24,000 unpaid carers.

And, in many cases, it is only possible because of a considerate employer.

Now, where carers juggle with a career with the support of their employers, the bosses are to be recognised with “caring boss awards.”

Carmarthenshire council’s department of communities caring team in partnership with the Crossroads Care Carerstrust is looking for employers or managers at work who have demonstrated support and understanding for a carer in their employment.

County carer’s officer Jonathan Rees said: “Many carers struggle to manage their caring responsibilities and hold down a job. Sadly, those who do not get the sympathy and support of employers, have to abandon their careers.”

He said they were launching an inaugural award scheme to recognise and promote good practice by employers who have demonstrated support and understanding to their working carer or carers.

“Adults have no duty or obligation to care for another adult. It is predominantly the result of love, commitment and devotion that drives people to care for another and often this is at great personal cost.

“Financial, emotional and physical burdens are common to unpaid carers, many of whom struggle to maintain employment as well.

“Employers and managers who are prepared to support their staff to retain employment and sustain caring deserve to be recognised,” said Mr Rees.

Giving an example, he said Tesco Supermarket had negotiated with a working carer who was looking after her husband with a degenerative condition to gradually reduce her hours as the condition deteriorated and the caring role increased.

He said: “Eventually she was just working for three hours per week but managed to maintain her social links and her employment with the opportunity to increase her hours when her situation allowed. This is the sort of practice we want to see and hear about so that we can share it with other employers.”

Caring could be extreme and have a tremendous impact on families, said Mr Rees.

“Some carers look after two or three people. Caring for a disabled child will often mean a lifelong commitment. Caring for someone with dementia is usually, but certainly not always, the role of a spouse.

“Taking on a complex and difficult caring role for a loved one is difficult, especially when you are elderly and possibly have your own health issues. Caring in mental health is often cyclical and can be anxious or scary, whilst caring for a parent or sibling whilst still a child sounds almost Victorian.

“Carers care without any formal training, without pay, without holidays, without supervision or support and without being able to go home after a shift. NHS staff or social care providers would refuse to work under such conditions.”

Mr Rees said his team wanted to hear of any examples so that good carers practice in the workplace could be shared and rewarded and to encourage more employers to recognise unpaid carers in their workforce.

You can nominate a boss by visiting www.carmarthenshirecarers.org.uk or by calling 03000200 002 to request a nomination pack