Carer’s Week 2016 – D&G Carer-friendly Council achieves Kitemark

Dumfries and Galloway Council has been awarded the Carers’ Positive employers’ Kitemark.  The Kitemark is awarded to employers who demonstrate their commitment to supporting employees who provide unpaid support to a dependent who is affected by long-term illness, disability or addiction who could not manage without this help.

The Carer Positive award is presented to employers in Scotland who have a working environment where carers are recognised, valued and supported. Carer Positive employers recognise the importance of retaining experienced members of staff, reducing absence, and cutting down on avoidable recruitment costs.

Our Council developed a Carer’s policy at the end of 2015.  The policy was developed in collaboration with Dumfries and Galloway Carer’s Centre, employees who are carers, management and Trade Unions.

It is estimated that there are approximately 660,000 carers across Scotland.  As such, the Council have a number of staff who carry out caring responsibilities every day.  The Carer Positive Kitemark recognises where employers have created a supportive working environment for carers in the workplace.

The Council recognises that from time to time, employees will need to balance work and caring responsibilities and the new policy seeks to provide this support for employees.  The commitments outlined in the Carer’s Policy means that some employees may be able to remain in employment where they would otherwise have needed to give up their work to provide care to a dependent.

Our Council is aware of the challenges many of our staff face when juggling work with their caring responsibilities. We are confident that raising awareness through our new Carer’s Policy, the additional flexibility provided for within the policy and the achievement of the Carers’ Positive employers’ Kitemark will help to recognise and support our working carers.

Council Leader, Ronnie Nicholson said “There’s no doubting the benefits that carers deliver and they deserve as much support as possible for the amazing job they do. Within the Council, many of our employees have to deal with the daily demands of caring for dependents and dealing with emergency situations.  Also, some of our staff may find the need to provide long term care for someone who is seriously ill.  This policy provides our staff with the reassurance that if they find themselves in these circumstances, the Council has arrangements in place to support them.”