
Who is a Carer?
Carers are members of staff with significant caring responsibilities that have a substantial impact on their working life. A staff member is a carer if they are responsible for the care and support of a disabled, elderly or sick partner, relative or friend who is unable to care for themselves.
The activities that staff with caring responsibilities undertake are wide ranging, including, but not limited to:
- help with personal care;
- help with mobility;
- managing medication;
- practical household tasks;
- emotional support;
- help with financial matters or paperwork; and
- being a supportive advocate.
The University understands that every caring situation is different and can change over time. Therefore the policies below allow flexibility in their use and cover a range of circumstances. Employees and Managers are encouraged to discuss carers support as they occur and during any points of change.
Carers’ Network
The University Carers’ Network provides an opportunity for carers to meet and socialise for peer support as well as an opportunity to feed back and inform the support the University provides for carers. Meetings are advertised on the Carers’ Network webpages and we would encourage all managers of carers to support their staff in attending.
Find out more (staff only)
Employee Assistance Programme
The free EAP service offers employees 24 hours a day, 365 days per year access to telephone counselling, information services and short term face to face counselling, close to where they live or work, or online.
Find out more about the services that EAP offers (staff only)
Validium Carers’ Support Pack
The Validium carers pack (staff only) provides you with tips on caring for yourself whilst caring for others, information on how counselling may help you throughout your caring responsibilities, adjusting to change, relieving stress, supporting family matters and signposting to other Validium services which may be useful to you.
Carers’ Car Park
The University has two dedicated car parks for carers. These car parks open at 8.45am to provide spaces for staff with caring responsibilities.
For more information visit our Car Parking web page (staff only).
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