Supporting staff who are unpaid carers

During Carers Week, RCT Council has demonstrated its commitment to supporting staff juggling their employment with unpaid caring responsibilities.

The Council is pleased to announce new support for staff who provide unpaid care for someone who is older, seriously ill, or disabled. Support includes a new paid leave entitlement of up to five days each year and new guidance.

The new guidance will inform staff who are unpaid carers about support available and how they can access this. It will also help their colleagues and line managers to support them better within the workplace.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. This year the theme is: ‘Make Caring Visible, Valued, and Supported’.

The Council’s has shown its commitment to staff who are unpaid carers is by becoming a member of Employers for Carers. Supported by the specialist knowledge of Carers UK and Carers Wales, Employers for Carers delivers hands-on advice to employers on how to support the estimated 1 in 4 of the workforce who are or will become carers.

Employers for Carers have spoken with Council staff across two days this week to help raise awareness about how unpaid carers working at the Council can access support, and how all members of staff can better support their colleagues who are unpaid carers.

This new support package has been created in consultation with staff members who are unpaid carers and Carers Wales.

Cllr Gareth Caple, Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care, said: “I’m very pleased to see the additional support provided for Council staff who are unpaid carers.

“Unpaid carers are often under considerable pressure, juggling work, caring responsibilities, and very often family life also.

“Better awareness of what it means to be an unpaid carer will help teams and managers to better support colleagues who are unpaid carers. The new paid leave entitlement will mean staff who are unpaid carers can have greater flexibility to deliver the vital care they provide, and help support their work/life balance.

“It gives me pride that we are able to announce this during Carers Week.”

Jane Healey, Employers for Carers Wales, Hub Manager, added: “We are so pleased that Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council have joined Employers for Carers.

"Their choice to partner with us will provide vital support for staff with caring responsibilities in what can be a challenging time to balance work and care. In addition, working with the Council will help to raise awareness of issues affecting carers across Wales and support in reaching all carers across different communities.”