Working dementia carers should ask training and support providers for online, local, or shorter-session options, replacement care, and appointment times that fit work. They can also ask employers for flexible arrangements that make those appointments realistically possible. Flexible support means changing the format, timing, or location of training and appointments so caring and paid work can continue together. It can include a video session before work, a telephone review during a break, or several short training sessions instead of one long course.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- Ask providers how training can fit your week
- Check whether the person with dementia can be safely supported
- Request appointment options, not just time off
- Talk to your employer about a workable pattern
- Use assessment and leave as additional support
Ask providers how training can fit your week
Ask whether dementia education and skills training is available one-to-one, in a group, or online. NICE says support for dementia carers should be tailored to their preferences and should include information on employment rights for carers who work. NICE's quality statement on supporting carers Be specific about what would make attendance manageable.
For example, ask whether you can join remotely, attend a nearby venue, split a longer course into shorter sessions, or receive materials to review between sessions. A useful request might be: "I work weekdays. Is there an online option, an evening session, or a way to attend this training in shorter parts?".
Check whether the person with dementia can be safely supported
Training is only flexible if you can attend without worrying about the person you support. Ask whether replacement care is available while you attend, how it is arranged, and what information the temporary carer will need.
NICE says services should help carers attend training knowing the person they care for is safe and cared for. NICE's guidance for dementia-carer support Before agreeing to an appointment, clarify:.
- Who will provide the replacement care.
- Whether it covers travel as well as the session itself.
- What happens if the person with dementia becomes distressed or needs you.
- Whether a relative, friend, or paid carer can be included in planning.
Request appointment options, not just time off
Health and social-care organisations can offer working carers appointments outside usual office hours, digitally, by telephone, or in a workplace setting. Those options can reduce the need to take annual leave or lose work time for every conversation. NICE's recommendations on supporting adult carers When booking, say that you are a working carer and ask which formats are available.
A telephone appointment may suit a discussion about support, while an in-person appointment may still be important when practical assessment or sensitive planning is needed. It can help to ask for a predictable arrangement, such as a regular late-day call or a video review at a set time. Predictability gives you a clearer basis for discussing changes with your manager.
Talk to your employer about a workable pattern
Flexible working is a right to request, not an automatic right to receive. In England, Scotland, and Wales, employees can make a statutory request from their first day of employment, make two requests in a 12-month period, and normally receive a decision within two months unless an extension is agreed.
GOV.UK's flexible-working guidance A statutory request should state the change you want to hours, working times, or place of work, plus when you want it to start. An employer must discuss a request before refusing it and must give business reasons for a refusal. GOV.UK's guidance on applying for flexible working Consider asking for a defined change that solves a real problem:.
- Fixed shifts so care arrangements are easier to book.
- A later start or earlier finish on one day.
- Home working for support calls or training.
- A private space for telephone appointments.
- Carer's leave for a time-sensitive care need.
Use assessment and leave as additional support
In England, an adult carer can request a free carer's assessment from their local council. It considers how caring affects work and may identify training, breaks, support groups, or other help; some councils offer assessments by phone or online.
NHS guidance on carer's assessments Carer's leave can help with occasional needs but has limits. In Great Britain, eligible employees caring for a dependant with long-term illness, disability, or age-related care needs can take up to one unpaid working week each 12 months, in days or half-days.
