If you need to give up your job to care for someone because it's difficult to do both, it might be possible to change your working pattern and reduce your hours.

Staying in your job

Employers want to keep valuable staff. Talk to your employer about how they can help you stay in work. You might be able to work part-time, from home or job share. Although reduced hours would have an impact on your salary, you might think about combining work and caring as a solution.

If you want to care full-time

Full-time caring can be very rewarding and most carers would not consider having anyone else look after the person they care for. Most full-time carers find they have less money and their social contact is restricted. Some lose their occupational pension and can find their skills deteriorating.

If you decide to take on a full-time caring role and then want to go back to work in the future you will be able to find help and support.

• Carers returning to work

Money matters

If you are planning to resign you'll probably be thinking about finances. There is more information from the Carer's Allowance link.

• Carer's Allowance

Resignation

You may not have to resign to take on caring. Your employer may be able to offer you:

• a career break - this unpaid break from working can be from six months to three years
• voluntary redundancy - if you don't want to go back to work for the same employer and redundancies are being made, your employer may welcome a voluntary redundancy
• early retirement

Talk to your employer or someone in your human resources (HR) department to see if any of these options are available to you.

Carer's assessment

Whether you choose to work, care or a combination of both, you are entitled to a carer's assessment. This takes into account your needs (for example, if you want to work) and what help the person you care for might need in your absence. Talk to you local Health and Social Care Trust for further information.

• Assessments for carers

If you don't want to become a carer

You could talk to family and friends to see if anyone else can take on the caring role. If the person you care for is assessed as needing care, the local health and social care (HSC) Trust has a duty to provide it. The Trust determines the type and regularity of care. You may find that some of the care is provided and you need  to pay for the rest.

• Arranging health and social care  
• Benefits and financial support