Supporting Working Carers - Employers Questionnaire

With 1 in 9 people now juggling work with caring for someone who is older, disabled or seriously ill - and our population ageing - carers are a growing reality in our workforce.

Without the right support, 1 in 6 carers give up work or reduce working hours to care. But many will be your most skilled and experienced staff, the 45-64 year olds at the peak of their careers.

South Tyneside Council and partners want to find solutions to support working carers to stay in work and to help those wanting to return to work. Our aim is to develop 'Carer friendly' organisations.

We would like your views on how we might achieve this.

We will use the information you tell us to help develop a Carers Strategy for South Tyneside for the next 3 years. This survey is anonymous and we will only contact you if you have provided your details.

We will publish the results of our survey during March on the council website at: www.southtyneside.gov.uk. Thank you.

If you would like further information on supporting your employees with caring responsibilities please contact South Tyneside Adult Carers Service (STACS) on Tel: 0191 4061531. You could also visit the Employers for Carers website part of Carers UK at www.employersforcarers.org

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* 1. Type of organisation:

Retail

Manufacturing

Construction

Transportation, Warehousing

Hospitality, Food, Leisure

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Finance

Legal Services

Public sector organisation

Voluntary organisation, community enterprise

Other (please specify)

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* 2. How many people do you employ?

less than 10

10-49

50-249

250 people or more

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* 3. Is carer's issues something you have previously considered?

Yes

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* 4. Do you have any arrangements in place (either formal or informal) for supporting working carers? (this could be flexible working practices, a carers policy or recognition of carers in other HR policies or classifying employees as carers)

Yes

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* 5. If yes, what arrangements do you have in place? Please select all that apply

Flexible working practices e.g. flexible start and finish times

A dedicated Carers policy

Carers are recognised in other HR policies e.g. flexible working policies, special leave arrangements

Collect data on employees who are carers

Practical support in the work place e.g. access to a private telephone, use of mobile phone

Other work place support e.g. access to occupational health schemes, stress management, counselling etc

Signpost employees with caring responsibilities to information and advice

Other examples of how you support employees with caring responsibilities (please specify)

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* 6. What are some of the challenges you might have come across or think you might come across when supporting employees with caring responsibilities?

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* 7. Do you have any examples of things that have worked well for supporting employees with caring responsibilities?

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* 8. Do you know where to find information about how to support an employee with caring responsibilities?

Yes

If yes, please describe

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* 9. Do you actively signpost or direct working carers to organisations that can support them?

Yes

If yes please give examples

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* 10. Would you be willing to find out more or give your views on how employees with caring responsibilities could be supported in the workplace?

Yes

If yes, please provide your name and contact details.