Suffolk Family Carers, in partnership with Suffolk County Council, has proudly launched the Caring Company Award Programme across our county, offering Bronze. Silver and Gold status.
Why? because currently, 41% of unpaid carers leave their job to fulfil their caring role, often unaware of their rights and access to vital support which could keep them committed and successful in employment.
This can often lead to poverty, decline in physical and mental health and result in very poor outcomes for all of those involved.
The aim of the Caring Company Award Programme is to ensure that, where possible, the valuable skills and experience held by many carers are retained by the employer reducing turnover of staff and need for recruitment and training costing time and money. This can be achieved by developing policies, compliance with legislation and building a caring and supportive culture to be proud of.
Becoming an unpaid carer can happen to anyone of us, whatever our position within employment, creating a need for understanding, flexibility and clear policies that meet the needs of both the business and the carer.
Suffolk Family Carers is committed to working with both the employer and those unpaid carers who are juggling employment with their caring role. Our aim is to help create a trusted, inclusive and supportive environment where carers feel valued and heard in the workplace. In turn, employers are guided and supported to achieve the significant benefits of becoming a Caring Company, providing an engaging and inclusive workplace for unpaid carers in their employ.
But we need your help to better understand how Suffolk employers currently identify and engage with carers in their workplace and how small changes in developing a carers policy would positively impact the 1 in 7 employees in their organisation.
We have developed two surveys, one for the employer/manager/team lead and one for the employee who identifies themselves as an unpaid carer in employment. By taking just 3 minutes to answer the survey, we will be able to tailor our support and services to ensure we are working closely with businesses within Suffolk to become a Caring Company
Please click on the links below to have your say;
Employees Survey - Suffolk Family Carers
Employers Survey - Suffolk Family Carers
To find out more about how your organisation can get involved in the Caring Companies Award Programme simply email me to register your interest or highlight in the comments section on the survey. Caroline.rapley-gibson@suffolkfamilycarers.org
Know or partner organisations that may be interested? Signpost them to me at Suffolk Family Carers and/or forward this information and surveys for them to complete.
Your support and engagement with us is much appreciated and we look forward to working with you in the future.