DWF appreciates that care giving situations are not static and that they can evolve and change over time. For some caring responsibilities may gradually increase or decrease over time, whilst for others they can start or end adruptly over night.
That is why DWF has focused on ongoing communications with working carers throughout 2023, to provide regular reminders of the support.
Monthly communications have been share with our Carers Group members across communications channels including Yammer / Viva Enage, email, internal blogs, the DWF intranet, and DWF all staff communications.
The topics were selected were based on feedback from a listening session conducted with Carers Group members in late 2022 and include:
- Parental, compassionate and bereavement leave
- Flexible working, part time working and workplace adjustments
- How to have discussions on caring needs
- Declining or ending caring responsibilities
- Long distance caring.
- Communications included useful information and support resources for further guidance and advice.
To mark Carers Rights Day 2023 we also provided additional communication throughout November in collaboration with our partner, Employers for Carers. These included:
- Promotion of Carers UK event on supporting carers with welfare benefits and their regular Care for a Cuppa sessions as well as an internal safe space virtual discussion for working carers at DWF.
- A reminder of our membership with Employers for Carers, an overview of their services and how to access them. We also include details of internal supports and details of how members can provide their feedback on any further support needs.
- Sharing the new Carers UK support animations to help carers navigate their caring responsibilities. These include 'How can getting an assessment help?', 'Need to manage someone's affairs?' and 'How do I get more help at home?'