Flexible working is not a “nice to have” for carers

5 mins read

Thursday 12 June 2025

This Carers Week, parent carers from Contact share why flexible working is more than a perk – it’s a lifeline.

Every day, thousands of parent carers across the UK are navigating the complexities of caring for their disabled children. With endless paperwork, hospital appointments, school meetings, and therapy sessions, all on top of the usual demands of parenting: it’s tough.

Many of Contact’s employees are parent carers, including staff delivering frontline services to families. We know that their expertise, coupled with their lived experience of caring for a disabled child, is an invaluable mix. But this is only possible because we are committed to being an inclusive and supportive workplace for carers. Sadly, too many workplaces aren’t.

Jade and Jaime, who are both working parent carers at Contact, show why flexible, remote work isn’t just “nice to have.” It’s the only way many families can keep their heads above water.

Jade: Social Media & Online Communities Officer, and mum to Finn (9)

Jade’s son, Finn, has a rare genetic condition called Houge-Janssens Syndrome type 4. His condition causes severe epilepsy and learning disability.

Jade says: “Life with Finn involves physiotherapy, specialist appointments, school meetings, and sometimes emergency trips to hospital. There are no typical weeks really. Finn has prolonged uncontrolled seizures and his epilepsy is drug-resistant, which means every time he has a seizure, he is hospitalised. This makes it tricky to be at work when I need to be in the back of an ambulance.”

Before joining Contact, Jade struggled to find an employer who understood this reality.

“I’ve missed out on opportunities before because of having ‘too much time off’ with Finn. I even lost one job due to medical appointments and hospital admissions put down to ‘sick leave’. It feels frustrating, because I feel I have a lot I can offer the workplace; I just need the chance.

“Here at Contact, I feel supported to be there when I’m needed. We have a generous paid carer’s leave policy, so I don’t have to panic or use annual leave or sick leave to care for Finn. Working from home means I can be there when Finn’s school transport picks him up each morning and drops him off in the afternoon. Flexible working means I can arrange my hours around appointments.

“Offering that level of support and understanding to parent carers is absolutely key. I can guarantee that if more employers did so, they’d have a team of fiercely loyal, hardworking individuals on their hands. We didn’t choose this life for ourselves or our children. Many of us had hoped and worked hard for careers and have our own personal aspirations that most workplaces make feel impossible.”

Jaime: Grants Coordinator, and mum to Jess (16)

Jaime’s daughter Jess lives with condition that causes chronic pain and frequent joint dislocations, including her ribs and jaw. Jess also experiences debilitating anxiety, especially around leaving the house for fear of injury. She is studying online for her A-levels, but requires constant support at home.

“Jess often dislocates joints just turning in bed. If she can’t get up in the morning, I’m helping her put things back into place – sometimes ribs that affect her breathing. I also monitor what she eats in case her jaw has dislocated again.”

Jaime has also cared for her father at the same time, often managing two complex care needs under one roof.

“It’s not the late nights or early mornings, it’s not the physical pressures, it’s the constant mental pressure. I am also a carer for my father who lives with us, and it’s a never-ending juggling act. I am always needed by someone, and that gives me very little time to switch off or detach.”

Jaime is able to keep working because of the adjustments Contact is able to make to support her.

Jaime says: “My work at Contact is incredible and allows me to fit in her doctor’s appointments and to be around to support her. I’m able to work early before Jess gets up for the day and to take breaks when I need to. Without flexible, remote working, I don’t think I’d have been able to work for the last few years.

“It also allows me peace of mind. I know that if I suddenly have to take a few hours off to support Jess, I can do so without worrying.”

A system that understands carers isn’t optional – it’s essential

Our Counting the Costs research found that 62% parent carers have had to give up paid work or reduce hours. On average, they lose over £21,000 a year in income.

But as Jade and Jaime’s stories show, this doesn’t have to be inevitable. At Contact, we’re proud to offer remote and flexible working, as well as a culture rooted in empathy and support. We don’t just accommodate carers: we welcome them, and we learn from them every day.

We know that other employers can do similar if they want to. Our friends at Working Families have produced a new toolkit for Carers Week on supporting employees with caring responsibilities.

Jaime and Jade’s message to other parent carers

“You aren’t alone. Raising a disabled child takes a city. Even when you don’t have hands-on help, online communities and support groups can be your lifeline. Use Contact. Use your community. We’re here.”

Jade adds: “When you see Contact’s content on social media, every post was shaped by my lived experience as a parent carer and the expertise of our helpline team. We’re not a faceless organisation. We’re real people with real stories, and we’ve got your back.”