Anyone, regardless of their background, age or ethnicity can become a carer at any stage of life. Being a caregiver can make it hard to do paid work, study, stay connected, and have fun.
In Kent, an estimated 182,000 adults aged 16+ provide many hours of unpaid care each week. Becoming an unpaid carer can happen suddenly, leaving people unprepared for the role that they take on.
KCC has a five-year plan called the KCC Adult Carers' Strategy 2022-2027 which was created with the help of adult carers, people who receive care, carer support organisations, and social care staff and focuses on the key areas that are important to people with caring responsibilities.
Carer's charity Mending the Gap
The council works with various carer support organisations who can offer help, advice, training, and support to carers, including balancing work and caregiving and has recently worked in partnership with neighbouring council colleagues to run a Kent and Medway initiative aimed at raising awareness of the support available for carers across the county with people being advised to seek advice and request a Carers Assessment from their local council. Funded by central government, a new Working Carers: Someone’s Listening campaign will be launched soon in Kent to support employers to think about the carers in their workforce.
Co-chair of the Kent Carers’ Strategy Group, and person with lived experience of being a carer and being cared for, Chris Jeffery, has been flying the flag for carers rights in the UK for over 15 years and through his charity, Mending the Gap, has published a report on the challenges for people with caring responsibilities also juggling full time employment.
Chris Jeffery, Co-chair of the Kent Carers' Strategy Group
Mr Jeffery says: “With an estimated 5million carers in the UK balancing work and unpaid care, we have to make sure we are getting out to employers to make them aware of the issues carers face in the workplace – and the resources available. The support that carers need is just as important as the support for the people they look after. Carers need the ability to maintain their wellbeing and health whilst making a living at work – all while supporting the person they care for when they return home.”
On Carers Rights Day, Chris Jeffery is co-hosting a webinar with the organisation "Inclusion Included" that features Dame Philippa Russell, former Standing Commissioner for Carers discussing carers’ employment rights.
Carers Rights Day is a national campaign led by Carers UK
If you're not sure if you can get help as a caregiver, you can request a Carers Assessment. Visit support for carers on the Kent County Council website for more information or contact your local carer support organisation (Involve covers west Kent, Imago covers north Kent and Carers Support East Kent covers the east of the county). Wider information for carers is held on the Kent Connect to Support website.
“Carers Rights Day is a wonderful celebration and important opportunity to strengthen the voices of unpaid carers...”
Dan Watkins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health said: “It is vital that unpaid carers, get to know their rights and can access the support available to them as soon as needed. Caring can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to see the support you are legally entitled to as an unpaid carer. Government legislation is in force to help, such as The Flexible Working Day 1 Act which ensures that employees can make a statutory request to make permanent changes to their contract from their first day of employment. The Workers Predictable Terms and Conditions Act 2023, gives workers and agency workers the right to request more predictable terms and conditions at work.
"Carers Rights Day is a wonderful celebration and important opportunity to strengthen the voices of unpaid carers, share information, advice and guidance to improve their knowledge of the support out there for them.
“My heartfelt thanks go to all Kent's unpaid carers for the outstanding and often self-sacrificing contribution they make to our residents and local communities. If you care for someone, I urge you to visit our website or get in touch and find out what support is available to help you.”
Carers in Kent who would like to support the Working Carers: Someone’s Listening campaign can register as a Your Voice Network member to hear more. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/yourvoice and complete the registration form.
