Carers Leave

[BeaTwix]

I'm pretty burnt out trying to juggle my full time NHS consultant post with caring for the oldie X hundred miles away.

There are a couple of big things looming - a cognitive assessment and a major repair on the house that is going to cause disruption ++.

I think I need to be there for both - to give a robust collateral history for the first and to make sure she doesn't screw up the latter. She successfully managed to sabotage the plumber going round on Monday by telling him I'd got the list of jobs wrong so one of the key issues isn't addressed!. Plumber said she was very convincing. I had told him to ignore her as she is confused but he obviously didn't pay any attention.

She is confabulating well at the moment and you would only know she is making stuff up if you actually know what happened in any given circumstance as she sounds quite plausible cf the plumber!

Contemplating using some unpaid carers leave. Anyone else done this? I'm slightly worried it is going to go down like a lead balloon at work.

I have without any problem at all. However I'm non-clinical so I get that the stakes are quite different. But the policy exists and you are allowed to use it and need to, keep that at the front of your mind.

Your employers may not like it, but if you're legally entitled there isn't a lot they can do. What's the alternative, getting signed off sick or retiring early to sort out your elderly person's needs ?

It's like parental leave, it's there to be used and your employer has to enable you to take it. It's not like it's even paid!

It's also more practical being able to nip a problem in the bud rather than having to deal with a later crisis using last minute leave.

Check if there are any requirements when booking it. I know parental leave requests have to be made a certain amount of time in advance.