'It is all about raising the profile of carers'

Image source, Rebekah Zammett

Rebekah was about to leave her home to work a night shift at a local residential institution.

Jack has cerebral palsy and there was a loud noise coming from his bedroom.

One day, the then eight-year-old had a seizure. Her mind was filled with questions as his convulsions ebbed.

Is it done? Is this for the emergency vehicle? Rebekah asked if we needed to administer emergency medication.

I don't know his medical history or the details of his needs. Not my spouse.

Rebekah was acutely aware that people at her workplace needed her to come to work.

Image source, Getty Images

She feels torn. The staff at the home couldn't clock-off until I got there. They would have spent at least 12 hours with the kids.

If I went to work, how would I focus on that?

Rebekah went to work after waiting an hour to be reassured that Jack was stable.

Jack needs help to eat, dress and go to the bathroom, and must attend many hospital appointments.

The estimated 10 million people who are now supporting an elderly, disabled, or seriously ill relative or other loved one will be the focus of this year's Carers Week.

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One adult in five has some kind of caring responsibilities according to the charity Carers UK.

It can be difficult to balance work with a job.

When her previous employer wanted her to work extra hours to make up for the time she had taken off to care for Jack, she broke down.

I didn't know what they thought of me when I went back in there. I didn't feel good. On the day after, she quit.

More and more people are leaving the workforce to care for their loved ones.

600 people a day quit their jobs to look after a loved one before the Pandemic hit. It is thought to be higher now.

In light of the current cost of living crisis, falling off the work-carer tightrope can be devastating.

Three years ago, Kim Harry-Young from Newport, Wales, had to stop working as a nightclub DJ because she had to care for her son with special needs and her husband with scurvy.

Image source, Kim Harry-Young

Kim thinks it's a problem. You have to reduce your spending.

She is dependent on benefits. She is missing more than the money.

I don't perform in front of people anymore. It is not possible to return to work. Sometimes you feel alone because it's just you doing it.

She says they're fortunate. Family and friend support is the most important thing. I have no idea what we'd do without them.

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a quarter of people who care for a loved one have fallen into poverty.

It's not the only person who suffers if they aren't part of the workforce. The economy as a whole takes a hit.

The cost of carers leaving the workforce was estimated by an academic study to be over three billion dollars.

The United Kingdom is in a recruitment crisis. There are more job vacancies than people without jobs. Chronic staff shortages are to blame for the disruption in the travel industry.

More people leaving the workforce can hurt the economy.

New Economy explores how businesses, trade, economies and working life are changing quickly.

Flexible working and time off to deal with emergencies are key to making it easier for people with disabilities to work in the workplace. Plans to improve those rights were not included in the legislative programme.

Companies took matters into their own hands.

Natwest and British Gas are two of the big firms that are members of the Employers for carers network. They want to increase employment policies that are friendly to the disabled.

The network includes an insurance giant. The staff can take up to 35 hours of paid leave per year. Flexible work is encouraged by the company.

The company's chief people officer thinks that most big companies should have similar policies.

Image source, Aviva

She says it's not just because it makes sense. It's a good idea to keep your talented people so they can work out the balance between caring and work.

There are costs associated with replacing someone if they leave. It can take up to six months for replacements to be up to speed, according to her.

Retention of talent is a good business case for what is actually doing the right thing.

Rebekah is balancing her studies for an Open University degree and caring for her son Jack.

She believes that the UK needs to place more value on its army of caregivers.

She says that you are not a particularly desirable person to have around.

The introduction of a new government payment for carers taking time off to deal with emergencies is something she would like to see.

It is about raising the profile of the people who care for us, they are committed and do care about their jobs. It's investing in future generations.

The Department of Health and Social Care in the UK said that carers play a vital role in our communities.

"We are investing up to £25m to work with the sector to kick start a change in the services provided to support unpaid carers - which could include respite and breaks, peer group and wellbeing support, and new ways to combine these and maximize their impact."