A health trust has become the first in Nottinghamshire to be recognised as a carer friendly employer for supporting informal carers in its workforce.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — which runs King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton, and Mansfield Community Hospital — received the Carer Friendly Employer Quality Mark from Nottinghamshire Carers Association.

It said the award was in recognition of the trust’s work, led by an action group, to support informal carers among its employees.

The association’s Carers in Employment project aims to encourage organisations across Nottinghamshire to retain staff who, due to their unpaid caring responsibilities, are at risk of leaving the workforce as a result of stress, ill health, lack of understanding, and lack of time.

The health trust has introduced a carers passport, trained carer champions, reviewed policies and procedures to ensure they are inclusive of carers, set up a carers network, and communicated the support available throughout the organisation.

Ali Pearson, people equality, diversity and inclusion lead for the trust, said: “We saw the benefits of the introduction of the carers passport for our patients and their carers and decided to implement it for our colleagues, acknowledging that many are unpaid carers.”

Jayne Davies, employer engagement worker at the carers association, added: “It is exceptional for Sherwood Forest to be the first NHS trust to achieve this accreditation in Nottinghamshire.

“The action group set up at the beginning of the process has been unwavering in its efforts and has shown a real commitment to carers that is now embedded in their organisation.”

Nottinghamshire Carers Association (NCA)works with health and social care professionals, schools, GPs, and local organisations to raise awareness of unpaid carers, and to promote carers hub service Tu Vida.

Employers wanting to be carer friendly can benefit from free training, resources, and ongoing support from NCA. It said the benefits for businesses providing employees with support to manage their unpaid caring role alongside their paid employment included employee retention, reduced recruitment and training costs, reduction in sickness and absence, and improved productivity.

Employers wanting to know more about the Carers in Employment initiative should email [email protected]

Pictured top are members of the task and finish action group at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust receive their Carer Friendly Employer certificate of accreditation from Nottinghamshire Carers Association (NCA). From left are Dr Elizabeth Carlin, Shannon Unwin, Amy Gouldstone, Jayne Davies (NCA), Sharon Cook, and Carolyn Harris.