Unpaid carers within military families: The impact on accessing employment

The Ripple Pond supports adult family members of serving and veteran British Forces personnel living with a psychological or physical injury. Our peer support network is made up of a community of unpaid carers supporting loved ones. Recently, we have spoken to our members about the impact that being a carer has had on their own careers.

In recent years, we have seen increased recognition of the difficulties faced by military spouses with regards to accessing employment. As a result, there is a growing network of organisations designed to guide and support spouses into training and employment whilst also helping individuals to recognise their own particular range of skills.

Whilst this recognition is helping to raise awareness of the usual employment difficulties faced by military spouses − such as regular moving, gaps in employment, limited access to childcare and flexi-working − there is a hidden community facing even further barriers: unpaid carers.

The UK government, along with the majority of statutory bodies and charities, use the NHS definition of a carer: “A carer is anyone, including children and adults, who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.”

Interestingly, the vast majority of The Ripple Pond members do not consider themselves to be ‘carers’.

It is estimated that between 7 and 25% of the UK population are providing unpaid care, with 60% of these carers being women.

(Family Resource Survey/Care UK) There is very little data in the public domain regarding the number of carers in the serving and veteran military communities. However, the ‘Young Carers in Armed Forces Families’ report, published by The Children’s Society in 2017, recognises that 1 in 11 UK military veterans who served in the regular Armed Forces between 1991 and 2014 will require significant physical or mental health support now or in the years to come. This presents an ongoing challenge that is not only having a significant impact on military families at present but will continue to do so far into the future.

IMPACTS OF CARING

It is widely acknowledged that the responsibilities of being a carer can have an adverse impact on an individual’s education and employment potential, which can lead to significantly poorer outcomes with regards to mental and physical health and quality of life.1

Recent respondents to a Ripple Pond survey enabled us to ascertain the following: • The average amount of free time available to someone caring for their loved one was between 0 and 5 hours per week. • 7% normally have their “me time” between 11pm and 3am and 45% report not having any “me time”. • 66% of members reported that caring for their loved one has had a significant impact on their own mental health and wellbeing. • 80% of new members said they felt isolated and unsupported at the point of initial contact with

The Ripple Pond.

• 46% of members spend up to 19 hours per week performing their role as an unpaid carer, with 22% caring for 20−49 hours and 28% caring for over 50 hours per week. 4% said the time spent varies.

CARING/MILITARY EMPLOYMENT

The military lifestyle has an extensive impact on the entire family. An in-depth study into military spousal and partner employment undertaken for the Army Families Federation cited several specific difficulties, including the following: • A lack of suitable childcare • The impacts of separation and deployment • The challenges associated with keeping up with professional development • The lack of training and/or retraining opportunities • Having to change career path • What is referred to as ‘MOD reluctance’ to support spouses and partners • General military culture.

Military life demands many skills on a day-to-day basis, some of which military spouses may not even recognise themselves as possessing − organisation, multitasking, resilience, time management, dedication and commitment, dealing with pressure, problem solving, researching, managing new situations, communicating and negotiating, perseverance, and motivation.

As well as the above, those military spouses who additionally undertake a caring role frequently have to adapt to − and overcome − issues such as having little or no support for themselves, extensive demands on their time, living under pressurised and stressful circumstances, and often bearing the sole responsibility for other members of the household, especially children.

Possessing such a unique and substantial set of skills and qualities clearly demonstrates that military spouses have a lot to offer in the workplace. However, despite this, access to employment can still be extremely difficult for many carers. Living under unpredictable demands can result in minimal or unflexible free time to commit to work, longer gaps in unemployment, and effects on their own wellbeing. CASE STUDY 1: “Overall, the impact has been catastrophic. My husband last worked in 2015 due to his mental health, and since then I have been his carer.

I would love to work. I would love to study, but the practicality of actually committing to something would be impossible with the intricacies of caring for someone with a condition that can be exacerbated depending on the day or week that we have had. I have to be flexible in my daily life, and sometimes even a few hours of commitment can be difficult.”

CASE STUDY 2: “My husband served in the Forces from 1967 to 1982 and as a result of the time he served he was eventually diagnosed with complex PTSD. I have worked in the NHS and as a direct result of his PTSD and supporting him, my career was majorly impacted. I actually ended up having to retire early which had and still has an impact on my pension. It also meant I had to take a lower-grade job, reduce my hours during my working life which also impacted on my pension.”

OVERCOMING BARRIERS FOR CARERS/ JOINING A SUPPORT NETWORK

67% of carers who responded to the Carers UK’s 2018 ‘State of Caring’ survey said they did not have enough emotional support.

The Ripple Pond exists to offer support to adult family members who are caring for a physically or psychologically injured service person or veteran. We connect our members via an active peer support network, as well as providing talks and events, signposting and sharing information on all matters that are relevant to our members.

The common feelings of isolation and loneliness are reduced by connecting with others who have lived experience of similar situations, and who offer both practical advice and emotional support through the peer support network. The care, concern, and compassion that members demonstrate for each other on a daily basis is truly amazing. There is always a listening ear and a kind word available when needed. Being able to access this support, as part of a welcoming and understanding community, alleviates some of the pressure and stresses experienced by those who are caring for a loved one, day to day.

HOW CAN A SUPPORT GROUP HELP MEMBERS ACCESS WORK?

Recognising the skills of carers When caring for a loved one, it can be difficult to identify your own qualities and skills. Many members find it difficult to explain that the gaps in their employment history are due to their caring responsibilities. Members also report that they would not feel comfortable with disclosing their situation to potential employers.

CASE STUDY 3: “There is a huge stigma attached to not only caring, but also combat PTSD. The “sympathetic eye” and jumping to conclusions about what caring for someone with a mental health issue really means would be detrimental to any application in my eyes.”

A large part of the service provided by The Ripple Pond entails signposting, and we pride ourselves on offering signposting with a difference – we listen to what our members need and find solutions that are specific to their individual requirements.

This could range from accessing coaching or employment support programmes to getting help with CV writing, job applications, and training programmes, or accessing agencies that work with organisations that offer flexible working for spouses and are sympathetic to the challenges faced by unpaid carers within the military community.

All-round support Establishing a strong support network is the ideal starting point from which to begin improving one’s own wellbeing and, in turn, learning to overcome and manage daily demands. With those foundations in place, members are better placed to consider career options − employment, training for work, or upskilling – whilst addressing any remaining barriers, step by step and at a realistic pace.

For example, for a member experiencing poor mental health due to caring, we can help source professional therapy/counselling services, as well as our peer support network offering 24-hour support. For a member experiencing financial concerns or uncertainty about benefits when working, we can help them seek professional advice via agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or access military-based financial support.

Building resilience In addition to our peer support, The Ripple Pond holds regular member talks and events, with carefully chosen and vetted subject-matter experts presenting to members. These events have introduced a number of our members to organisations offering emotional support and coaching, thereby encouraging them to consider their own wellbeing and methods of managing the stress they are under.

We have found giving our members the opportunity to find out more about these organisations, and ask questions prior to commitment, has led to them feeling less anxious about making follow-up contact and enquiries and a more positive outlook towards investigating their employment options.

Taking small steps towards a better mindset, and more personal resilience for carers, is vital to entering the workplace.

help@theripplepond.org www.theripplepond.org 0333 900 1028 theripplepond theripplepond theripplepond theripplepond

1 White Paper: ‘Caring for our future: Reforming Care and Support’

Notes: 43% of respondents of the 2021 ‘State of Caring’ survey were of working age (accounting for 1,500 respondents). Of these, 20% were in full-time employment, 17% were employed part-time, and 6% were self-employed.