Thousands of unpaid carers across Wolverhampton are set to benefit from the right to up to five days of unpaid leave from work to fulfil their caring responsibilities. Landmark legislation, backed by Stuart Anderson MP, is effective from 6 April. The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 provides, for the very first time, all employees who have unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member or friend with the statutory right to take up to five days of unpaid leave a year to fulfil their caring responsibilities. It fulfils a key pledge in the manifesto upon which Stuart was elected in 2019.
According to research from Carers UK, 600 people a day have to give up work in order to care for older, ill or disabled relatives and friends due to a lack of support and flexibility in the workplace. With the introduction of Carer’s Leave, they can now benefit from additional flexibility to help them better balance their employment with caring responsibilities. Leading employers who already offer Carer’s Leave say the support can help to deliver business benefits; improving productivity overall through better staff retention, by reducing recruitment costs, and by supporting employee wellbeing.
Stuart also welcomed almost half a million pounds to develop a digital carers solution to increase identification, recognition, and early intervention for unpaid carers across the Black Country. The Integrated Care System has been allocated £494,309 from the first tranche of the Accelerating Reform Fund, which will also be used to implement new initiatives to better support carers through the hospital discharge process. It will also develop the digital and assistive technology offer to support unpaid carers and improve the carers assessment process including through self- assessments and digital tools.
The Accelerating Reform Fund provides a total of £42.6 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support innovation and transform the way adult social care services are provided nationally. The funding will implement and scale up local-led projects that support people who draw on care as well as unpaid carers. Carer’s Allowance is also available to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who are not able to work full time because of their caring responsibilities. Since 2010, the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £81.90 a week from April 2024, providing around an £1,500 a year for carers through Carer’s Allowance.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Unpaid carers in Wolverhampton and beyond play a vital role in caring for and supporting family members, friends, neighbours, and others. Carer’s Leave, effective from 6 April, will help carers to better balance their work and caring responsibilities, giving them more time to do other things they value and leading to improved health outcomes, such as feeling less stressed. Supporting carers in this way will also allow employers to benefit from a more committed and engaged workforce. Carers across the Black Country will also benefit from new funding for early intervention and can apply for Carer’s Allowance, which has just been increased to £81.90 a week."
Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately, said: “We’re sticking to our plan to deliver ambitious social care reforms that will ensure everyone gets the care they need and help even more people to live independently. Alongside our workforce reforms, we’re supporting the sector by backing innovations which will make our care system fit for the future and provide vital support to our selfless unpaid carers.”