West Lothian offers a mix of workplace support, local carer services, and practical help like assessments, short breaks, and flexible working. If you’re looking for support as an unpaid carer, the main options are below.
| Support available | What West Lothian says | How to access |
|---|---|---|
| Tell the council you’re a carer | Add your carer status to your MyHR profile. The information is confidential and can be updated any time. | Log in to MyHR, go to View Profile, then Sensitive Information, and add your carer status. |
| Statutory carer’s leave | Unpaid leave to care for a dependant. Employees can take up to one week every 12 months, in whole weeks, days or half days. | Request it in MyHR under Other Leave. |
| Flexible working | Options include homeworking, hybrid working, reduced hours, compressed hours, changed start/finish times, change of work base, term-time working, and additional purchased annual leave. | Use the Flexible Working Request Process. |
| Carers Scotland roadshows | Information, support, peer connection and access to local services for unpaid carers. | Complete the Unpaid Carer Consultation - Caring for Carers Roadshows questionnaire. |
| Local carer charity support | Carers of West Lothian offers information and advice, training, one-to-one emotional support, hospital-based carer support, peer support groups, counselling, signposting, support for young carers, recreational courses, short break funding and respitality. | Use the Carers of West Lothian page. |
| Carer’s assessment | You can ask for a carer’s assessment to see what support you need for your caring role. | Contact your local authority / social services department. |
| Carer support groups | Peer support and practical/emotional support from other carers. | Join a local carer support group or search locally; one source mentions the advice service on 0300 5000 927. |
| Carers service | Free carers services are available in most areas. | Join a carers service. |
| Self-directed support | Carers eligible for support can receive personalised, outcomes-focused assessment and support planning. | West Lothian says this is part of its support for carers and service users. |
| Employee assistance programme | Support and information on mental health, physical health, bereavement, alcohol and drug misuse, trauma, childcare, eldercare, family/home, money worries, consumer/legal issues and work/life issues. | Use the employee assistance programme. |
West Lothian also says it is working to improve support for carers through better identification, assessment, information and advice, health and wellbeing support, carer support, participation and partnership. If you’re a council employee, the quickest starting point is usually MyHR; if you’re looking for wider community help, Carers of West Lothian is the key local service.