There are a range of resources and support available within the Department and wider University to colleagues with caring and parental responsibilities.

The HR Team are available to provide advice about caring support options for employees or supporting line managers. If you would like to discuss your options or need some advice on how best to support employees you line manage with their caring needs please get in touch via the HR Inbox.

If you need support navigating this webpage or have any feedback, please contact Ginger Jansen.

The Carers and Parents Working Group brings together colleagues from across the Department who have caring and parental responsibilities or have an interest in supporting carers and parents. The group works to improve understanding of the challenges carers and parents face, identify ways the Department can offer better support, and help shape policies and practices that make a real difference. It also provides a space to share experiences, raise concerns, and connect with others in similar situations.

The group is Chaired by Jo Gearing, Claire Friedemann-Smith, and Charles Vicary and reports into the wider Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team. 

If you're interested in knowing more or would like to join the group, please contact Ginger Jansen (secretary). 

You can view the group's Terms of Reference and open minutes here.

Policies can feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate. Please contact Marie-Pier Belanger - our dedicated HR contact for carers and parents - if you need support with these. 

Our Department Policies can be found here, and the following apply for Carers and Parents:

• The Carers and Parents Conference Fund

This fund allows parents and carers to apply for financial support to contribute towards the additional costs of care for staff and DPhil students of the Department attending conferences or other work-related training.

• Meeting Times policy

This policy sets out the expectations around meeting organisation, to ensure that colleagues with caring and parenting responsibilities are able to join Department and team-wide events and meetings, and participate in training opportunities.

Carers and parents fund for attending conferences

This policy supports staff and DPhil students in the Department who have caring and/or parental responsibilities and are attending conferences or work-related training. Its purpose is to provide small grants (up to £500) to help cover additional care costs, enabling equal access to career development opportunities such as presenting research and professional training. 

You can download the policy here.

Meeting hours policy

This policy applies to all staff and students in the Department and covers department-wide, governance, training and regular team meetings. 

Its purpose is to ensure meetings are scheduled within core hours (9.30am–3.30pm where possible) so colleagues with caring and parental responsibilities can participate fully in meetings, events and training opportunities.

You can download the policy here.

If you’d prefer to talk things through, Marie-Pier Belanger is available for a confidential conversation about your parental or caring circumstances.

Oxford Carers Peer Support Network (Teams)

Working Parents at University of Oxford (Teams)

Employee Assistance Programme

Thriving at Oxford - Wellbeing support

Occupational Health

Department wellbeing pages

Contact PHC HR Team

Young Minds

Carers UK