Derbyshire Carers Association is delighted to announce that Blythe House Hospice has successfully achieved the Carer Friendly Employer Quality Mark. This recognition highlights the Hospice’s ongoing commitment to understanding, recognising, and supporting unpaid carers within its workforce.

The Carer Friendly Employer Quality Mark is awarded to organisations that demonstrate excellence in supporting employees who have caring responsibilities outside of their professional roles. Blythe House Hospice has implemented a range of initiatives to foster a supportive working environment for unpaid carers, ensuring they feel valued and understood.

Some of the key initiatives introduced by the Hospice include:

• Training Workplace Carer Champions: A dedicated team of Carer Champions has been trained to provide guidance, advice, and support to colleagues who are also unpaid carers.
• New Carers Policy: The Hospice as introduced a new policy outlining the support available to employees with caring responsibilities, ensuring they have the necessary flexibility and resources.
• Updated Leave Policy: Existing leave policies have been reviewed and updated to include paid carers leave.
• Recruitment Procedure Review: Recruitment processes have been revised to include questions about caring responsibilities on application forms.
• Induction Process Review: The Hospice's induction process has been updated to include carer awareness and available support.
• Peer-to-Peer Support Network: Workplace support has been set up in the form of drop-ins to encourage connection, shared experiences, and practical advice among colleagues facing similar challenges.

• Carer Awareness training for Managers – Encouraging empathetic conversations and where necessary reasonable adjustments.
• Other Support: Existing communication tools, for example staff newsletters, are being used to raise awareness of unpaid carers and workplace support.

Sarah Sewell, Community Engagement Officer at Blythe House Hospice, and new Carer Champion as part of this initiative said: ‘We are incredibly proud to receive the Carer Friendly Employer Quality Mark, which highlights our dedication to fostering a workplace culture that supports and empowers unpaid carers. We recognise the invaluable contribution carers make, both at home and within our organisation, and we remain committed to ensuring they have the support they need to balance their responsibilities.’

The Hospice continues to work closely with Derbyshire Carers Association to further develop and enhance the support available to its workforce.

Jayne Davies, Employer Engagement Lead at Derbyshire Carers Association commented:  "Blythe House Hospice has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting unpaid carers within their workforce. Their proactive approach sets an excellent example for other organisations to follow."

For more information on the Carer Friendly Employer Quality Mark please visit https://derbyshirecarers.co.uk/carers-in-employment

Blythe House Hospice’s CEO Shane O’Reilly, Jayne Davies (employer engagement lead, Derbyshire Carers Association), Sarah Sewell, Community Engagement Officer and Carers Champion, Jenna Carrington.