Empowering Staff With Caring Responsibilities
In the third sector, we recognise and champion the vital contributions of unpaid carers, understanding that their work often goes unnoticed. Our mission at TSI (Perth & Kinross) is to lead by example and promote fair work practices throughout the region, embracing initiatives like Carers Positive. Initiatives like these offer to strengthen your organisations workforce, improve efficiency and enhance employee well-being by developing an understanding of the caring responsibilities held by employees.
This guide will demonstrate how easily third sector organisations can get involved with the Carers Positive Initiative to champion our sector’s unpaid carers.
What is Carers Positive?
The Carers Positive Initiative aims to encourage employers throughout Scotland to create supportive work environments for carers, helping them balance their work and caregiving responsibilities. Unfortunately, many carers often give up work due to the difficulty of juggling their caring responsibilities alongside their job, but by offering support, third sector organisations can benefit from retaining experienced staff while helping individuals and their families.
The Carer Positive Award is presented to organisations in Scotland who have a working environment where carers are valued and supported. This initiative can deliver real benefits to employers by reducing absence and cutting down on avoidable recruitment costs, Carers Positive discuss the many benefits to employers.
- Attract and retain staff
- Reduces stress and sickness absence
- Reduce recruitment and training costs
- Increases resilience and productivity
- Improve service delivery
- Demonstrate commitment to fair work
The Different Faces of Caring
Caring roles are diverse, and recognising and supporting this part of our workforce is crucial, as caregiving impacts employees from all backgrounds. By doing so, organisations will help create a more inclusive environment where staff can balance work and caregiving responsibilities effectively.
“I care for my adult son who has a learning disability”
“I have to check on my mum every night to make sure she is safe at home”
“I do what I can to help my wife who cares for her elderly father“
Apply to Become Carer Positive
Applying to become Carers Positive is straightforward. New employers must first apply for the level 1: Engaged Award and following this will aim for a Level 2: Established Award – granted that the employer is showcasing that they are nurturing a culture of support within the workplace. Finally, employers can be awarded with Level 3: Exemplary status where the organisation is recognised by the Scottish Government funded Initiative for its exemplary support for working carers.
If existing policies supporting carers within the workplace are in place, organisations may be able to progress through the awards process quickly.
Additional Support
Additional support or advice directly from Carers positive can be provided by emailing sue.mclintock@carerscotland.org or by calling 0141 445 3073.
Level 3: Exemplary PKAVS Carers Centre Manager Raymond Jamieson has offered to support applicants to discuss applications and queries regarding the Carers Positive Award. Contact: raymond.jamieson@pkavs.org.uk