A Greater Manchester survey to better understand how we can support working carers

The Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (GMHSC Partnership), the body overseeing devolution of the area’s health and social care budget, is looking at how we make sure carers across Greater Manchester receive the support they need in the workplace. This is part of a wider programme of work which recognises and supports the role of carers in Greater Manchester

Why are we undertaking the survey

Of the 220,000 carers of working age across Greater Manchester only around 65% are in employment. We want to better understand what can be done to make working carers better able to balance their caring and work responsibilities, and what can be done to get more carers into paid employment, if this is what they wish to do. For this reason we want to learn from the experience of as many carers as possible, whether working or not.

When people need help with their day-to-day living including their care, they often turn to their family and friends. Looking after each other is something that we do. If you are providing this help on an unpaid basis, you are a carer. If you are holding down a paid job and caring for someone, then you are a Working Carer.

Definition of a Carer: A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

Definition of a Working Carer: Working Carers can be in full/part time employment and also provide the above.

Your response to this survey will be completely anonymous.

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* 1. What is your gender?

Female

Male

Other

Prefer not to answer

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* 2. What is your age?

17 or under

18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 or older

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* 3. How long have you been caring for someone?

Less than 5 years

Between 5 and 10 years

Between 10 and 15 years

Between 15 and 20 years

Greater than 20 years

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* 4. Which local authority area does the person you look after live in?

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* 5. In which local authority area is your main employment?

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* 6. Type of employer:

Arts, entertainment and leisure

Central government / defence

Charity / not for profit

Construction and civil engineering

Education - private

Education – public

Emergency Services

Hospitality, hotels and catering

Housing

IT and communication

Local authority / councils

NHS / public health or social care

Private health or social care

Retail

Transport

Other public sector

Other private sector

Not currently in employment

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* 7. Approximate size of employer:

Less 10 employees - Micro business

11 - 50 employees - Small business

51 - 250 employees - Medium size business

251 + employees - large business

do not know

Not in employment / working

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* 8. If you are currently in employment, is your employer aware that you are a working carer? Which of the following best describes this?

Yes, My employer is aware i am a carer

No, My employer is unaware of my caring responsibilities

I am not currently in employment

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* 9. Thinking about combining paid work and looking after the person you care for, which of the following statements best describes your current situation?

I am not in paid employment because of my caring responsibilities

I am not in paid employment for other reasons (e.g. retired)

I am not in paid employment but I undertake voluntary work

I am in full time paid employment and I feel supported by my employer

I am in part time paid employment and I feel supported by my employer

I am in full time paid employment and I don’t feel supported by my employer

I am in part time paid employment and I don’t feel supported by my employer

I do not need any support from my employer to combine my work and caring responsibilities

I am self-employed and I am able to balance my work and caring responsibilities

I am self-employed but I am unable to balance my work and caring responsibilities

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* 10. Thinking about any time you have been in paid employment within the last two years, have you ever had to take time off in order to care for the person that you look after?

Yes, and my employer allowed me sufficient paid time off to cover the time I needed to be away from work (e.g. carers / compassionate / special leave)

Yes, and I was able to use flexitime / credit-time and work my hours back at another time

Yes, but I had to take annual leave from my entitlement to cover my time away from work

Yes, but I had to take sickness absence in order to take sufficient time away from work

I have needed to take time away from work but this was refused by my employer

I have never had to take time away from work to manage my caring responsibilities

I have not been in paid employment within the last two years

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* 11. In terms of support for working carers, please rank the following in order of importance (1 is most important and 6 least important):

A named person within the workplace that you can go to for advice or with concerns

Clear policies on what your entitlements are as a carer within the workplace

A supportive manager and colleagues who understand your caring responsibilities

Access to a network of other carers within your workplace, for mutual advice and support

Flexibility in your working hours to enable you to balance your work and caring responsibilities

Access to information, advice and support from local services outside your employment

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* 12. Thinking about unemployed carers who want to gain employment, please rank the following in order of what you feel would be the most important (1 is most important and 6 least important):

A job where my employer shows support and understanding around my role as a carer

A job that allows me to be flexible around my working hours

Better support from the Job Centre / DWP to link me to suitable jobs

Better support made available to the person I care for, to enable me to gain employment

It is my choice not to be in paid employment

Not applicable – I have been in paid employment throughout the last two years

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* 13. Do you have any comments you would wish to make in terms of your own experience of balancing caring responsibilities with work, or is there anything else you wish to say that hasn’t been covered in the questions above?

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* 14. What is your religion?

Christian/Protestant/Methodist/Lutheran/Baptist

Catholic

Mormon

Greek or Russian Orthodox

Jewish

Muslim

Buddhist

Hindu

Atheist or agnostic

Nothing in particular

Other

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* 15. What is your ethnicity?

White British

White Irish

Other White Background

Mixed White and Black – Caribbean

Mixed White and Black – African

Mixed White and Asian

Other Mixed background

Asian or Asian British

Asian or Asian British Pakistani

Asian or Asian British Bangladeshi

Any other Asian or Asian British background

Black or Black British Caribbean

Black of Black British African

Any other Black or Black British Background

Chinese

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Whilst your responses in this survey are and will remain anonymous, if you are happy to provide your contact details so that we can include you in any future surveys or focus groups to better understand the issues facing working carers, please add your email address here………