Hi,
I am new to caring as I took over looking after my dad when my mum passed away in January.
I am also a primary school teacher.
The coronavirus has me especially worried as my dad is in the vulnerable group yet I am still needed at school to help look after key workers’ children (albeit on a rota basis).
While my dad is social distancing as much as he can, I am concerned about exposure to the virus at school and then passing it on.
Does anybody know/ can anyone point me in the direction of where I can find out whether I have any specific rights (not sure thats the correct word) as a carer e.g. should I be requesting to work from home as a care for a member of a vulnerable group? Is this something I can make my own decision about or does it have to come from someone more formally e.g. my doctor?
Thank you for your help and guidance!
I think this is something you have to discuss with your manager/s.Do you live together. You have a right to protect your family.
As it’s going to months ahead. Before things get back to normal. We all have to find our own way forward. What will work for us.
It’s your decision. As you work in a school do you have a union rep.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:
Health and social care
This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.
At the moment I can only find the above. Which mentioned a person’s own children but not their parents etc.
Hopefully, Carers UK maybe able to answer this one.
I would definitely talk to your head teacher, you could be directed to update policies, rewrite curriculum documents, do planning, set work for pupils being educated at home etc Each school is tackling this differently and some heads are better at tackling the situation creatively than others. Yours might need a nudge - however, to often best to let them think they thought of the idea in the first place!
Melly1
Completely get where your coming from. I’ve been a Carer of some degree to my dad for a few years but he’s 81 now and his health in the last 6m has declined so my role has changed and hugely increased. He’s got various underlying health issues so is at high risk of Covid-19 complications.
Problem is I’m a part time nurse working 2 days a week in general practice , have a 6yr old daughter & self employed breadwinning husband
Currently off self isolating (well from all bar the one person at highest risk but I’m limiting my visits and using protective clothing etc) but terrified to go back to work & have to send my child to school.
Where do you think I stand? Keep waiting for guidance but nothing specific out yet