Information for
Professionals

At work you may come into contact with Carers as colleagues and/or as customers. You may not even recognise who a Carer could be and more importantly, sometimes the Carer themselves does not recognise themselves as a Carer. The information below is designed to help you identify and support the Carers you come into contact with. Referral Form
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Why is supporting Carers so important?

Carers make a major contribution to society. The value of unpaid care was estimated at £530 million per day and £193 billion per year during the pandemic (Carers UK, Unseen and Undervalued, 2020). To be frank, without Carers, society would collapse. Carers are often referred to as the ‘hidden army’ of society as the magnitude of the work that they do is unpaid and done at home behind closed doors. If Carers are not given support, they are likely to burn out. It is important to consider, that with people living longer, at some point in your life, you may find yourself in this position and become a Carer to someone that you love. 

 Who is a Carer?

Reasons why employers should support Carers

According to Carers UK, on average, 600 people a day leave work to care – with over 500,000 people leaving work to provide unpaid care pre-pandemic (Carers UK, Juggling Work and Care).
Currently, one in six working Carers give up work or reduce their hours due to their caring role, and many others affected by poor wellbeing and stress. With many working Carers aged 45 – 64 years old, these are likely to be your most senior and skilled staff. 

From a legal perspective, employers, have obligations under flexible working regulations and equality legislation relating to disability which could apply to Carers. Employers cannot treat Carers less favourably than other people who do not have caring responsibilities. The Equality Act 2010 protects a person who experiences discrimination because they’re associated with someone who has a disability.  

If you would like to find out more, including support for professionals, please visit the Forward Carers website Carer Friendly Communities or email carerfriendly@forwardcarers.org.uk 

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How Carers can support in Health and Social Care settings

Relatives and Carers play a critical role in caring for people at home and become experts in their care, providing a valuable insight that health professionals can benefit from. By working in partnership, Carers and health care professionals can ensure that the patient receives the appropriate care and improve time and chances of recovery.

As a professional working in social care, you will be in a position to identify Carers and link them up to support services such as Birmingham Carers Hub. Carers are critical to your role, so the advice and guidance you offer to them can avert a breakdown in care, help manage your own current workload and prevent an increase in future case work.

GPs and their teams are usually the first place that Carers have contact with the NHS. GPs have a vital role in identifying, recognising, supporting and forming a relationship with Carers. Not only will this benefit the health and wellbeing of Carers, but can also be an advantage to your practice. In some areas, GPs are already the gateway to the huge range of support available to Carers.