Support for staff who are carers

Free online platform – and new Carers Passport (November 2020) - to support staff who are also carers working in the Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership.

Are you combining working with caring responsibilities, often unpaid, for family or friends who have a disability, illness or who need support in later life?

Mid and South Essex Health & Care Partnership has joined forces with national charity, Carers UK, to offer support to staff who are carers. To find out more information you can access the Digital Resources for Carers available 24/7 by going to carersdigital.org and creating a new account using the access code DNHS9674. This will give you as a carer access to a range of resources giving information and support regarding caring for others including guides, factsheets and e-learning opportunities: 

• The Digital Resource for Carers includes e-Learning modules, factsheets, interactive guides, personalised support, and information from us covering the following areas:
  • Health and wellbeing: including resources around nutrition and breaks
  • Support for Caring: including our 5 ‘About Me’ e-Learning courses on building emotional resilience and finding support, and our Upfront guide to caring which gives tailored advice to carers depending on their situation
  • Technology and Caring: includes guides on how to use technology in care
  • Financial Planning: includes a resource made with the Money Advice Service called ‘Thinking Ahead’; a questionnaire style tool to help people think about the costs of caring
  • Working and Caring: includes guides to rights at work and seeking support at work
• Access to all to our care co-ordination App, Jointly.
• Young Adult Carers; an e-Learning resource for young adult carers now in adult services including, for example, advice and information for making choices about caring, and support in and about education and work
• Your own information and support for carers in your organisation

As part of this support, from Monday 9 November 2020 our Carers Passport is being launched with many of our health partners. 

A Carer Passport provides a way for you to explain your situation and the flexibility you need to your manager. It does not normally involve a formal change to your contract of employment and will be developed during a caring conversation to discuss:

• Details of your current caring responsibilities - how they affect your work and vice versa
• Statutory and organisational flexible working and caring policies
• Any support currently in place, considering how additional support might address both your needs and the needs of the team
• Any additional questions about caring and work.

You must have a caring role in order to qualify for a Carer Passport. It is advisable to be open and honest about your caring responsibilities.  However, you are not obliged to divulge any personal information unless you want to. 

In addition, if you change manager or team, the Carer Passport provides a straightforward way to carry that flexibility and support into your next role, without having to repeat the same conversations.

If you are looking after someone and would like to find out more about our Carers Passport Scheme and other workplace support please contact your HR or Wellbeing/Occupational Health Team.