Advice for working unpaid carers
Working carers are people who support a family member or a friend while also being in paid employment.
This section provides information on some ways to ease the strain this can place on those affected.
Flexible working
Unpaid carers often juggle work with caring. Flexible working helps us make this easier. This includes:
It is your choice whether you tell your employer about your caring responsibilities. However, talking to your manager about your situation can be helpful, as they may offer you additional support on top of your statutory rights.
All employees have the right to request flexible working, provided you have worked for your employer continuously for 26 weeks.
Employers must consider this request. Only one application is allowed in one year, so ensure that you think carefully about any financial or practical implications.
To apply, you should write to your employer asking for the changes you would like and saying why these would help you. You should include an explanation of how you think the proposed change might affect your employer’s business (if at all) and how this might be dealt with. Your manager must follow a defined procedure to consider the request.
Visit the Carers UK webpage for more information, including a guide to requesting flexible working.
Other legal rights at work
As an unpaid carer, you may take 'reasonable' time off work to deal with an emergency relating to someone you care for.
An emergency could be:
- an unexpected illness
- an accident
- a breakdown in care arrangements
- a bereavement
- if you must deal with an incident involving a child during school hours
You can only take off the time you need to deal with the emergency or arrange other care. Whether the leave is paid or unpaid will depend on your contract of employment. You should check with your manager or personnel department.
Employees are now entitled to up to one week of unpaid leave to give or arrange care for a dependent who has:
- a physical or mental illness or injury that means they’re expected to need care for more than 3 months
- a disability (as defined in the Equality Act 2010)
- care needs because of their old age
The dependant does not have to be a family member. It can be anyone who relies on them for care.
You can find more information on the Unpaid carer’s leave page on the Government website.
Young carers
A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 who provides unpaid care for a family member, partner, child, friend, or neighbour who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, could not cope without their support.
Imago is a charity supporting young carers in Bexley through a variety of activities, workshops and respite.
Imago has been commissioned to offer support to young carers aged 8 to 18 living in Bexley. These young carers are looking after a family member, including siblings, who has a long-term illness, disability, mental health condition, or substance abuse problem.
You can complete the online referral form on the Imago Young Carers website.