Social Security Scotland wins Inclusion Award for Carer Support

Social Security Scotland won a bronze award for inclusion at the 2023 UK Civil Service Operational Delivery Profession Awards.

The award ceremony marked achievements of colleagues who directly interact with the public. The Operational Delivery Profession accounts for over 230,000 civil servants in more than 80 departments and agencies.

We were recognised for our efforts to support our colleagues with caring responsibilities.

One of our initiatives to support working carers is our Carers Café. We host regular café sessions that offer a space for peer-to-peer support, helping us remain committed to our Carer Positive Exemplary status and promote a healthy work/life balance. 17 Carers Cafés events have taken place since we launched the initiative in December 2021, with 83 colleagues signing-up to participate.

We have received great feedback with 100% of attendees saying the experience had been good to excellent.

Lesley Young, Senior People Advice and Support Manager, said:

“Many carers give up work because juggling caring responsibilities and a job becomes overwhelming. Carers UK have said 3 in 5 of us will become carers at some point in our lives. The team have been invaluable in supporting our people to be able to bring their whole selves to work.

“The new initiatives we have undertaken promote an atmosphere of mutual support and can help colleagues to juggle a demanding job with caring responsibilities. It has enabled us to retain people who have lived experience of what our carer clients experience – people who can empathise with carers and contribute to shaping our service, making it a better one.

“I am very proud of the work my team have done to support working carers in Social Security Scotland and to promote our organisations key focuses of dignity, fairness and respect. The success of their achievements and the difference we are making was recognised by receiving Bronze in the Inclusion category at the Operational Delivery Profession awards. I am very proud of their achievements and the difference they are making”[GJ(1]

Earlier this year we were recognised as a Carer Positive Exemplary employer when we were highlighted as a good example for others working to build support for carers within their organisation.

You can view an interview with one of our carer colleagues on YouTube.