Carer’s Week 2018

This week is Carer’s Week – an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

Around 6.5 million people in the UK are carers, looking after a parent, partner, child or friend. A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.

Today fleet regional maintenance manager support for the west, Helena Cutler, who is based at Gloucester fleet workshop, shares her experience as a carer.

Helena has worked for Royal Mail Group for almost 16 years. As well as working full-time, she is also a carer for her son Caleb, who is seven years old. 

‘Caleb had a difficult start to life and went through the care system until he was placed for adoption with my husband and just over three years ago at the tender age of four,’ she said. ‘The business really supported me as I went through the adoption process and allowed me to use flexi-time and annual leave to attend the necessary training courses. Shortly after we were approved to adopt, the opportunity arose to register interest in Caleb. 

‘After yet more meetings to check our credentials, all the social workers thought we would be a good match and we travelled to Caleb’s local area for the matching panel. Things moved swiftly after this and within no time at all, Caleb moved in. We knew that there was a possibility that Caleb would have some form of special needs as he had been severely neglected – he didn’t walk until he was two. When he moved in, he had limited speech, just three words, and used Makaton sign language to communicate. 

‘Six months later, Caleb started school and I returned to work after my adoption leave. It took some organising but we settled in to a routine that gave Caleb the structure and stability he needed. Since then, he has been diagnosed with Dyspraxia, Sensory Processing Disorder, Global Developmental Delay, Hypermobility and Attachment Disorder – which makes life for him very difficult. He has no sense of road safety and has to be watched24/7. 

‘My manager has been supportive with me having to take time off for meetings at school – Caleb has an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) and a one to one teaching assistant who is employed purely to support him and work with him outside of class. Some of these meetings can be very last minute if any issues have arisen, so the flexibility I’ve been given to drop my work and go has really helped lessen the amount of stress I’m under at any given time.

 ‘When I spoke to my manager, we agreed to trial an amendment to my working hours to allow me to complete my day before picking Caleb up from school three days a week until the summer holidays begin, when we will review  my hours again.

‘I love my job and I am proud to work for Royal Mail, especially in Royal Mail Fleet. I also love my son. Life is tough having to fight for support from the NHS and social services but being at work gives me the respite I need from the challenges I face at home and allow me to be ‘normal’ for seven hours a day.’

Parents & Carers

Please visit the Parent & Carers steering group homepage to read more about the work the group is doing, and access a range of resources available to support you if you are caring for others.

If you would like to share your story, learn more or get involved, please contact us at parents.and.carers@royalmail.com.

Click here to find out more about Carers Week and how you can get involved.