Posted on: 26 November 2021
For Carers Rights Day, we held a programme of events to celebrate carers, raise awareness of unpaid carers in the workplace, and highlight the support available through the Trust and our dedicated Carers at Work (CAW) Staff Network.
Hannah Witty, Chief Finance Officer and Executive Sponsor of the CAW Network said:
“Carers play an essential role in supporting us all, and we couldn’t function without you. We want to say thank you to all carers across CNWL and beyond - we are so grateful for all that you do.”
Due to the demands of the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting carers has become more important than ever. Since March 2020, Carers UK estimate a growth of 4.5 million unpaid carers, with 2.8 million of whom are working. Being a carer comes with high personal costs, having a profound impact on their health and wellbeing, relationships and financial position:
- 75% of working carers are exhausted
- 55% are overwhelmed by their caring role
At CNWL it is important that staff feel free to ‘bring themselves to work’ and this includes their caring responsibilities. As part of Carers Rights Day, we launched the Carers Passport, a tool that allows carers to initiate a discussion with their line manager about caring responsibilities and how this impacts their working life.
“It makes it easier for carers to identify themselves, and avoids carers having to repeat or explain their unique situation when they change teams or get a new manager,” says Sarah Hulme, CAW Co-Chair. “It helps carers think about practical things they may need to support them in the workplace and it will assist managers in understanding the art of the possible.” More information for staff will follow.
In the afternoon, we were joined by Katherine Wilson, Lead for Employer Services with Carers UK. She discussed the wealth of information and support available to help you as a carer. This can be found here. “It’s not a straight slope. The needs of carers and the flexibility required can change overnight. It’s crucial to establish a dialogue and be proactive,” Katherine said.
“Self-compassion is not a luxury – it is a necessity,” was the theme from Michael Appleton’s (CNWL Senior Psychotherapist) workshop, courtesy of the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service. We also hosted an Open Mic Session focusing on the experiences of BAME carers. Learn more here.
Through the work of CNWL’s Carers Council as well as the Patient and Carer Involvement Team, we were proudly able to promote Carer Awareness, a new co-produced training programme, which is now available for every staff member to complete.
If CNWL colleagues want to find out more, contact our Carers at Work Network – they welcome any questions, and have curated a wealth of resources including the ‘Support for Carers’ booklet. Please email cnw-tr.carers.cnwl@nhs.net.