Every member of staff has the legal right to ask their employer for flexible working. There are several options that may be available, making it easier for you to balance your caring responsibilities with your job. You must have worked for the same employer for 26 weeks to be eligible.

Flexible working options can include:

• Flexitime – allows working hours to be arranged to meet the needs of the business, and to enable you to adjust your working hours.
• Part-time working – working fewer hours in order to provide care (or for other reasons).
• Job-share – more than one employee sharing a full-time workload on a part-time basis.
• Home working – enabling you to work from home using email, internet, fax or telephone.
• Parental leave – parents may be able to take unpaid leave to look after their children – see Gov uk: parental leave.
• Compressed working hours – working normal hours over fewer days.
• Term-time working – taking paid or unpaid leave during school holidays.
• Compassionate leave – a reasonable amount of unpaid time off, to deal with unforeseen matters and emergencies involving a dependant, including leave to arrange or attend a funeral.
• Carers leave – is a statutory entitlement that allows eligible employees to take up to one week of unpaid leave each year to provide or arrange care for a dependent with a long-term care need – see The Carer's Leave Act 2023 | Carers UK

Employers may not offer all of these solutions – check with your employer.

For more information on statutory employment rights, you can visit Carers UK: Work and Career or call their advice line on 0808 808 7777.

Employers for carers

Employers for Carers is a subscription service that offers support and resources for employees with caring responsibilities, and for their employers to help support carers in the workplace.

To access the resources and support available, visit EfCDigital.org and register using Durham County Council’s unique access code #EFC2485.

Working and supporting someone’s health or care

The gov.uk Job Help campaign has launched a new site to focus on the needs of those who may have concerns about combining working with their caring responsibilities. Working and supporting someone’s health or care provides advice and signposting to support carers to stay in work or continue to look for work.

You may be able to get help to move into work from the Jobcentre Plus Work Preparation Support for Carers programme. This includes access to training and advice on job hunting and applications. Carers can also get extra support such as help with the cost of care while attending interviews or training. Contact your local Jobcentre Plus to find out more.

If you are aged 16-24 years and are not in education, employment, or training, DurhamWorks can give you information, support, and guidance that will help you find opportunities near to you.

Durham County Council’s Welfare Rights service offers advice on starting work and the benefits and credits that can help you back into work.

You can also contact Durham County Carers Support (for adult carers, young adult carers aged 18-24, and parent carers), or Family Action: The Bridge Young Carers Services (for young adult carers aged 16-24) for information and advice.

Starting a career in County Durham’s social care sector can be very rewarding, with lots of different roles depending on what you want to do, who you would like to work with and where you’d like to work. County Durham Care Academy offers training and development opportunities that can help to get you started in your new career.

Organisations in County Durham can sign up to demonstrate their support for carers through two initiatives:

• ‘Carer Friendly Employer Accreditation’ offered by Durham County Carers Support
• ‘Young Carers Charter’ offered by Family Action: The Bridge Young Carers Service

You can find out more information on our Become a Carer Friendly Organisation page.