Looking after someone 2017, Northern Ireland | Page 31

Examples of emergency situations:
• a disruption or breakdown in care
arrangements
• the death of a dependant
• if a dependant falls ill, has been
assaulted or is in an accident
• to make longer term
arrangements for a dependant
who is ill or injured (but not to
provide long term care yourself)
• to deal with an incident involving
a child during school hours

“I care for my daughter and work
part time. It’s the only break I
get from my caring role. It’s a
struggle to organise, especially
in school holidays, but I enjoy
getting out of the house and
talking to the customers.”

“I applied to reduce my working
hours from five to four days
a week, on flexible working
grounds. It’s hard work, but does
mean I can fit in appointments
and care meetings on my day off.”

Looking after someone

If you have worked for the same
employer for twelve months and
you are responsible for a child
aged under 18, you are entitled to
18 weeks parental leave per child,
which must be taken by the child’s
18th birthday.
This time off in unpaid unless your
employer is willing to give paid time
off as a contractual right.
Visit carersuk.org/work to read our
online information.

“I care for my wife, who has
MS and epilepsy. We have
paid care workers coming
in to help, which means I
am able to work full time.
However, when my wife has a
bad episode the whole routine
falls down.
My employer supports me
with a great deal of flexibility.
When an emergency does
happen, it is ‘don’t worry
about work’. However, I
quickly use up my annual
leave because of caring, and
unpaid leave isn’t an option.”

carersuk.org

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