The Work Couch: Carers Week Special (Part 2): Supporting employees caring for neurodivergent children, with Zahra Lakhan-Bunbury, Sheena Goodey and Charlotte Reid

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

Content warning: The following content is about real experiences of caring and the pressures that can come with navigating systems around support for children, which some people might find distressing.

To mark Carers Week - and this year's theme of building carer-friendly communities - we are devoting a two-part conversation to colleagues who are balancing their work with caring for their neurodivergent children, and how employers can implement effective support at work.

In part two, we explore what good employer support looks like in practice and the legal considerations that organisations should have on their radar.

Host Ellie Gelder is joined by Zahra Lakhan-Bunbury, Account Manager at Employers for Carers, (the workplace arm of Carers UK), Sheena Goodey, Central Services Manager at Carers First, and Charlotte Reid, Senior Associate in RPC's Employment, Engagement & Equality team.

Together, they discuss:

• the findings of the recently published Tipping Point report and why unpaid carers leave work;
• the existing statutory entitlement to time off for parent carers, including statutory carers leave and the "patchwork" of other leave options;
• what effective employer support looks like beyond the minimum;
• the importance of visibility, disclosure – including carer passports - and peer networks; and
• practical actions for employers, for example paid carers leave where possible, manager upskilling, leadership role-modelling, and tracking take-up and data.

Please note: This episode was recorded before the government launched its consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children. Employers, stakeholders and carers are encouraged to provide feedback and can respond to the consultation here.

Listen to Part 1: Unseen realities of working and caring for neurodivergent children, with Caroline Withers, Michaela Gibson and Rachel Pears here.

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All information is correct at the time of recording. The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

To access further support, you may wish to visit: Carers UK, Carers First, Support SEND kids and for those of you working in the insurance sector, please visit Insurance Families Network.

References

1. Carers Week report: Building Carer Friendly Communities (June 2026)
2. Government consultation: Make Work Pay: Employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children (Open until 1 September 2026)
3. Research by Sense: Nearly half of all parents fear educational support will be taken away from their disabled children (January 2026)
4. Report by Department for Work & Pensions: The cost of working age ill-health and disability that prevents work (March 2025)