Posted on: 27 November 2023
Last week, we hosted Carers Rights Day at South Wing in St Pancras Hospital, to recognise the contribution of Carers and learn about the support available to them at CNWL.
Over 40 staff came along to share their own experiences of caring, to gain support, to hear about CNWL’s Carers at Work Staff Network, and of course to eat cake!
Co-chairs of the Carers at Work Network, Sian Aylett (Head of HR Diggory Division), and Sarah Hulme (Community Services Director for Inner London), said:
“We want to recognise the value that carers bring both to our workforce and those working with parents, young people, children and patients who also have Carers looking after them.
“We know that one-in-three staff in the NHS have caring responsibilities outside of work, and the network is about supporting the wellbeing of our own staff many of whom are Carers in their own time”.
We took the opportunity to officially welcome Tom Shearer, Chief Finance Officer, as the new Executive Sponsor of the Carers at Work Network.
Speaking at the event, Tom said:
“The Carers Network is brilliant at raising awareness. Joining as Executive Sponsor, I’m now aware of the need for active conversations in my team about caring responsibilities. The awareness isn’t just about Carers rights, it’s about all of us, especially managers, and how we can be active in our support of our amazing carers who are balancing their job with so many other demands.
“We often say treat others how you want to be treated, but this is outdated. It’s about treating others how they want and need to be treated, and showing empathy for other people’s situations.
“I’ve heard a lot of people today who want to know how to be a better manager or peer, and I definitely consider myself in that position. We all have a responsibility.”
We were then treated to an ‘in conversation with’ discussion between Tom and Pam Duke, Occupational Health Managing Director, about how to identify and support the wellbeing needs of Carers in the workplace.
At the event, we met our newly-appointed Carer Champions, as part of our commitment to the national Triangle of Care scheme.
In the photo below you’ll see our Carer Champions Siana Duder, (Physiotherapist), Emma Belford, (Health Visitor), Joseph Strange, (Health and Social Care Technician), and Gabriella Stanciulescu (Healthcare Assistant).
We rounded off with a quiz about Carers rights. Thank you to our Staff Networks Coordinator, Anne Power, for putting this together.
The Carers at Work Staff Network is here to support you. Staff and managers can access a wealth of resources on Trustnet. Search ‘Carers at Work’ or ‘Occupational Health’.