Know Your Rights, Use Your Rights
Carers Rights Day raises awareness of the rights the UK’s 5.8 million unpaid carers are entitled to, and to help them get the support they need and the recognition they deserve.
This year, Carers Rights Day is on Thursday 20th November and the theme is ‘Know your rights, use your rights.’ As a carer, knowing your rights can help you feel confident asking for what you need, as well as challenging things when your rights are not being met.
Your right to a Carers Assessment
If it appears that you have needs for support, you can request to have a carer’s assessment done. A carer’s assessment is an opportunity for you to discuss your needs and the impact a caring role is having. The assessor will look at your ability and willingness to care, and how caring affects your health, work, free time, relationships and more.
Your right to request a Needs Assessment
This is an assessment for the person you care for. If the person you are looking after is an adult and appears to have a need for support, they should be offered a needs assessment by their local authority.
For more information, check out Carers UK’s helpful guide.
Your Rights in Work
Your rights in work come from two sources:
* Statutory rights – rights in law which everyone has
* Contractual rights – your employment contract may give you additional ‘contractual rights’ which may be more generous that statutory rights.
Carers Leave
The Carer’s Leave Act covers employees in England, Wales and Scotland. Employees are entitled to one week’s unpaid leave per year if providing or arranging care for someone with a long-term care need. This leave can be taken flexibly (in half or full days) for planned and foreseen caring commitments. It is available from the first day of employment.
Flexible Working
The Flexible Working Act covers employees in England, Wales and Scotland. If you’re managing caring alongside paid employment, you are entitled to request a flexible working arrangement from day one of your employment.