Kingston Carers' Network

Who we are

About Kingston Carers’ Network (KCN):

Kingston Carers’ Network (KCN) is a local registered charity, providing independent information, advice, advocacy and support to people who care for someone living in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
We support over 4,600 adult carers and over 800 young carers. We are also committed to ensuring that carers have a stronger voice, and so we offer a range of opportunities for carers to have a say in the way health, social care and carers’ services are run in the borough.
We represent our carers’ views across the borough to ensure that local decision-makers fully consider the needs of carers.

What we can Offer You:

Community

Staff away days
In person social activities

Family

Our policies include compassionate, dependents, carers and bereavement leave that support the lives of staff who have additional commitments.
Many of our staff and trustees have experience of caring and we are a carer friendly organisation.

Holidays

25 days annual leave per annum plus statutory holidays – pro-rata.
Bonus Christmas Leave
Annual leave allowance runs from 1st April to 31st March.

Flexible working

We operate flexible working practices which include working from home, varying start and end times of the working day and compressed hours.
Staff are expected to record their working hours on a timesheet and will accrue time off in lieu for any hours worked over their contracted hours.

Pay and pension

You’ll be eligible and auto-enrolled into a pension scheme with Scottish Widows. We offer a 4% matched pension contribution after successful completion of three month probationary period.

Learning and development

A key part of our strategy is to continue to develop and enhance the knowledge and learning experience of our staff.
Staff have regular supervision which can include a personal support plan. The wellbeing of staff is paramount.

Travel Expenses

Reimbursement of travel expenses on public transport incurred in the performance of official duties, or a mileage allowance for staff members using their own cars.

Our culture and values

KCN's vision is a future where unpaid carers are recognised, valued, and enabled to live and care well.
Our mission is to provide tailored information, advice and support to unpaid carers, advocating for better local services that meet their needs.
Values
Everything we do is driven by the following values:
Compassion: We bring an empathetic and caring approach to our work and ensure that carers are treated with compassion and care by others.
Authenticity: We stand with carers and use our independence and lived experience to challenge injustice and champion carers’ rights.
Representation: We are proactive in putting unpaid carers at the heart of our decision-making so that carers’ diverse perspectives are seen, heard and shape our services.
Expertise: We recognise carers as experts in their loved ones’ needs, bringing innovation to our services through co-production and listening and learning from feedback
Relationships: We build and strengthen peer support and community.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Equality and Diversity

KCN is committed to providing services without discrimination to those
who are entitled to them, regardless of race, colour, gender, sexual
orientation or age, and its workers are expected to strive to conform to
this goal.