Caring for Carers

The University is committed to supporting staff with caring responsibilities so they can balance work and care in a sustainable and healthy way. This page outlines who may be considered a carer, what support is available internally, relevant policies, and key external organisations that can offer additional help.

Who is a Carer?

A carer is anyone who provides unpaid support to someone who would struggle to cope without it. This may involve regular, substantial care or occasional support during periods of illness, instability, or change. The University recognises that caring responsibilities can arise in many situations — some of which people may not immediately associate with ‘being a carer.’

A carer may be supporting:

• a spouse or partner
• a parent or guardian
• a child
• a sibling
• another dependent person — including someone outside their household or living at a distance

Examples of Caring Situations

Caring roles can be visible or hidden, long‑term or short‑term. They often begin with situations people commonly recognise — such as supporting someone with a disability, long‑term health condition, mobility impairment, serious illness, or neurodivergence — and can also arise in less obvious circumstances. These might include:

• helping someone manage a flare‑up of a chronic condition (e.g., autoimmune conditions, severe arthritis, long‑term pain)
• supporting a partner or family member through acute illness, recovery from surgery, or mental health challenges
• assisting someone experiencing debilitating menstrual pain, complications in pregnancy, perinatal illness, or menopause‑related symptoms that significantly impact daily functioning
• providing emotional support, attending appointments, managing medication, or coordinating practical tasks
• checking in daily with a family member living at a distance who needs regular reassurance, reminders, or monitoring
• supporting someone in residential care or a care‑home setting, where unpaid caring continues through advocacy, planning, or emotional support

Why It Matters

Many people do not realise they are carers because they associate caring only with hands‑on personal care. In reality, caring often looks like ‘helping out’ — organising, watching over someone, stepping in when their condition fluctuates, or carrying the emotional load during periods of health instability. These situations, including those connected to pregnancy, menstrual health, menopause, chronic illness, or unpredictable flare‑ups, can all create caring responsibilities that deserve recognition and support.

Our Commitment to Supporting Carers

The University recognises the emotional, logistical and practical demands placed on carers, aware of the fact that at times it may difficult to combine work and caring responsibilities. Therefore, we will adopt the following principles:

• Provide sympathetic consideration to requests for support from those who have caring responsibilities, based on shared understanding of the situation and its impact at work
• Ensure that staff with caring responsibilities are treated fairly and without disadvantage
• Handle requests confidentially, tactfully and respectfully