Thursday, November 21st 2024, is Carers Rights Day. This year’s theme is recognising your rights as an unpaid carer.
Twelve thousand people in the UK become unpaid carers daily to look after a partner, loved one, or friend. Many don’t consider themselves carers or realise their legal rights and entitlements.
As this year’s Carers Right Day theme is recognising your rights, we want to reassure you that you’re not alone. We’re here to help you understand your rights and guide you towards the available support.
Knowing your rights as an unpaid carer helps you get help where and when needed. It also enables you to challenge situations where your rights are not being met. These situations can arise at home, in the workplace or education, when accessing health or social care, or when interacting with healthcare professionals.
The Carer’s Leave Act, which became law in 2024, gives employees who provide unpaid care the legal right to up to five days of unpaid leave annually. This means that if you are an unpaid carer, you can take up to five days off work each year to attend to your caring responsibilities without the fear of losing your job. The law will help many carers manage daily challenges while staying employed.
You can request flexible working if you’re working alongside your caring responsibilities. The new Flexible Working Act means that anyone, including unpaid carers, can ask their employer to change their working hours, times of work, or place of work. You can also change your flexible working arrangement more than once a year to adapt to new circumstances.
As an unpaid carer, you can ask your GP to identify you as a carer on your patient record. This identification may put you into a priority group for vaccines or other public health initiatives. The Carers UK website has downloadable letter templates to help you with this.
It’s essential to look after yourself when you’re offering unpaid care. One way to do this is to request a free flu jab. If you’re the primary carer for a person who may be at risk if you become ill, or if you receive Carer’s Allowance, you should be offered a free flu vaccination. Speak to your GP or local pharmacist about this.
If you look after an older or disabled person, the Equality Act 2010 protects you against discrimination or harassment because of your responsibilities. You may also be protected under disability or sex discrimination legislation. Understanding your rights can be helpful if you feel mistreated because of your caring role. Read more here.
Many carers find receiving assistance makes it easier to continue caring for someone. You can request a carer’s assessment if you need support. You’re entitled to a carer’s assessment if you’re over 18 and provide regular unpaid care, regardless of how much or what care you provide.
If the person you care for is being discharged from hospital, the hospital must identify and consult with you, where possible.
Sefton Carers Centre offers free advice and guidance, emotional and practical support, training and a range of therapies for unpaid carers living in Sefton.
Support comes in many different forms. If you’re an unpaid carer who needs help, advice, or support, Apollo Care Liverpool’s range of services has you covered.
Our home care, personal care, and companionship services across Liverpool and Sefton ensure that you and your loved one can receive specialised, quality care.
Whatever your needs, we care like family.
Email john.mcgovern@apollocareliverpool.co.uk for more information.