You could find out if your employer offers flexible working patterns to help you work and care, for example:

• flexible starting and finishing times;
• compressed working hours;
• annualised working hours;
• job sharing or part-time working;
• homeworking and teleworking; and
• term-time working.

Leave arrangements

You can use leave arrangements to cover intensive periods of care. Find out if your employer has provisions for carer's leave, or compassionate leave. Whether such leave is paid or unpaid is usually at the discretion of your employer. If you are thinking of giving up work because of a long-term caring commitment, find out if your employer could offer you a career break. This would allow you to keep your options open and keeps you in touch with the world of work.

Access to information and advice

You need access in your workplace to information and advice, directly or through signposting. Find out what is available through your personnel officer; welfare officer or occupational health adviser; union or staff association representative and colleagues.

Support may include an in-house information line, intranet or carers network, or access to an employee assistance programme.