NHS Grampian has been recognised with a Carer Positive award for supporting carers in the workplace.  

Carers Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, is operating an award scheme to recognise employers in Scotland who support carers in their workforce.  

It aims to raise awareness of the growing numbers of people who juggle work and caring responsibilities.  

NHS Grampian was awarded an ‘engaged status’ on Wednesday, during Carers’ Week (June 7-14). The health board received the award during a virtual ceremony, with its director of people and culture, Tom Power accepting the award, from Sue McLintock, manager of the Carers Positive Award, Carers Scotland.   

Tom said: “I was delighted to receive the award on behalf of NHS Grampian. It is a positive reflection of our support for our workforce.   

“As an organisation, we are consistently in awe of our staff and their efforts to look after our patients and indeed ensure NHS Grampian can be the best it can be.   

“Over the last 16 months those efforts have been multiplied further as we battled the Covid-19 pandemic – our staff have been herculean and without them more people would undoubtedly have lost their lives in Grampian than tragically have.   

“Through programmes – including Healthy Working Lives and We Care – and a progressive HR policy framework that supports flexible working we are working to foster and develop an exemplary culture and working experience within NHS Grampian which focusses on wellbeing and recognises colleagues have lives well beyond the workplace.”   

Pictured is Tom Power, Director of People and Culture, NHS Grampian

As part of the application for the award, staff testimonials of their experiences working for the health board while acting as carers were included. One stated they had been “supported beyond expectation” by their line manager to act as a carer providing palliative care to a parent.  

Another said: “I find NHS Grampians attitude towards carers very supportive, which lessens the stress of having to care for an ill relative. For that I am eternally grateful.”   

Nationally, more than 227,000 Scots who have started caring since the outbreak are also juggling paid work alongside their caring responsibilities. 7% of carers have reduced hours to manage their caring responsibilities, and 7% have given-up work to care.   

Often those with a caring role do not recognise themselves as a carer so do not seek support. Juggling work and caring can lead to their health and wellbeing being impacted on and possibly time off work.   

It is estimated that one in eight people in the workforce will be carers and this is likely to increase as the population gets older.   

Sue added: “We are delighted to recognise NHS Grampian as a Carer Positive employer, and especially during Carers Week, helping to highlight a very positive message of support to the many members of staff who are currently balancing caring responsibilities with their working roles.   

“NHS Grampian has shown real commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of staff, and as part of this have developed a working culture which values and supports carers.   

“The award is well deserved, and I am sure that work to support carers, both within the health board, and in the wider community will go from strength to strength.”   

Further information on how NHS Grampian can support carers in the workplace is available on our carers support page.

Further information on Carer Positive can be found at www.carerpositive.org