Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) is setting a great example of how organisations can recognise and support staff who balance work with caring responsibilities.
Through its dedicated Working Carers Network, Carer Passport scheme, and a culture built on flexibility and understanding, the Trust empowers employees to manage both their professional roles and caring duties.
The Trust shows how thoughtful policies, open communication, and leadership commitment can make a real difference to working carers and to the organisation as a whole.
TEWV is one of the largest mental health and learning disability trusts
in the country. The Trust recognises that many of its staff also care for family, friends, or neighbours outside of work, and it actively supports them to balance both roles. (Research indicates that more than a third of staff within the Trust are juggling work and caring roles).
A dedicated network for working carers
TEWV has a Working Carers Network, one of several staff networks that employees can join during work time.
The network:
- Allows staff who are caring for someone outside of work (family, friends or neighbours) to connect so they can share experiences and support each other.
- Meets monthly online via Teams, with occasional face-to-face sessions.
- Has around 80 members and is growing.
- Helps to shape and propose actions that the Trust might take to improve the experiences of staff who are working carers
- The network’s executive sponsor is the Chief Nurse, giving it a strong voice within the Trust.
The network offers a safe and informal space for working carers to meet and discuss issues and offer mutual support and advice. Guest speakers sometimes join meetings to share information and resources.
Practical support that makes a difference
The Trust offers a Carer Passport – a document that is used to help carers and their managers have open conversations about support needs. The Passport sets out an offer of support, services or other benefits, to support carers in their day-to-day life.
There’s a dedicated working carers page on the staff intranet, featuring local support, resources, and a toolkit created by carers themselves.
The Trust also works with local carer organisations who provide valuable advice in the development of carer-friendly workplaces and provide one-to-one support for working carers.
In addition to regular communications, TEWV marks Carers Week and Carers Rights Day each year to raise awareness and celebrate the contribution of carers across the organisation.
A culture that values flexibility and understanding
Helen Cooke, Health & Wellbeing Strategic Lead, says:
“We’re always looking for ways to improve how we support carers. We’ve recently carried out an internal survey to help us identify what is really important to our staff who are carers. Ensuring that they are aware of how to access the support available (within and out the Trust) is a key priority for us. We’ve also made some changes to how the network is run, rotating the days when this takes place to allow staff more opportunity to attend if they wish. We are currently looking to develop our training / awareness materials to ensure our managers know how to effectively support team members with caring responsibilities.
“We aim to create a workplace which helps them to balance work, service needs and their caring responsibilities. Hopefully this will mean we can retain our working carers and don’t lose valuable skills and experience.
"The carers in the network rarely ask for anything but the network gives them a voice and helps us make sure they feel supported. Many of our employees meet unpaid carers every day without realising they’re carers themselves.”
An employee’s perspective: Sarah Morris shares her experience
“I have been employed by TEWV in the Research & Development team for the past nine years, and, during this time, I was a carer for my dad for numerous years – as he lived with advanced dementia.
Currently I am a carer for my mum, who has physical disabilities.
I have been very lucky and feel very well supported by my managers and by the whole team.
I was encouraged by my line manager to have a carer passport, which identifies and supports me as a carer in my organisation. In addition, I attend the monthly carer support network in TEWV and my carer passport is reviewed in my monthly supervisions.
Having the support from my line manager and wider team and organisation gives me peace of mind that I am able to care for mum, and attend her appointments etc when I need to.
It is difficult juggling full-time work, running a household, and carer duties, so having that understanding manager who I can turn to at any time is paramount.”
The manager’s perspective
Andrea Murray, registered mental health nurse and research delivery team lead, said:
“It’s important that, as an organisation, we do everything we can to be flexible and help our team members manage the additional commitments they have in their life wherever possible. An inflexible environment only adds to stress, which isn’t good for the carer, the person they care for, or the organisation and the people we serve. We care about our team members, and it is important that they feel supported and valued.
“Offering some flexibility where possible helps relieve pressure, keeps people in work and, providing all the elements work, supports not just financial stability, but also productivity, having support from others, feeling valued and reducing isolation.”
“Sometimes employees will need to take time away from work, and it is important that this is recognised and that they are supported during these times too. Reassurance may be needed to manage any concerns they may have about being absent due to caring roles, and maintaining an open and supportive culture should be at the fore front of a manager’s perspective.”
The message to other organisations
TEWV shows that supporting working carers doesn’t just help individuals, it strengthens the whole workforce. Creating a culture of flexibility, understanding and open communication helps retain skilled staff, reduces stress, and builds a stronger, more compassionate organisation.
Find out more about how your organisation can support working carers
