Articles by ‘James Sage’

In one of the most eagerly awaited judgments for the care sector, the Supreme Court has confirmed that it will hand down its decision in Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake (the “Mencap case”) on Friday 19 March 2021.

Our recent poll found that whilst 53% of care providers had over 80% of staff vaccinated against Covid-19, 20% are operating with more than 40% of their workforce unvaccinated. In the vast majority of cases, this was due to workers being unwilling or unable to have the vaccine.

A poll by social care experts RWK Goodman reports that almost three quarters (73%) of social care providers would like to make a Covid vaccination a condition of employment for new members of staff. That condition would include exceptions for those who can’t have the vaccine on medical or other protected grounds.

RWK Goodman’s Health & Social Care team are pleased to invite you to our webinar providing a practical update and guidance on how to tackle the current HR and employment law challenges in the care sector.

2020 has been one of the most traumatic years for the social care sector in living memory. Whilst its impact will be long felt, care providers will be looking for clarity, security and a return to normality in 2021.

It feels like a long time since March. During the first wave, care services were put under unprecedented pressures. Now that the second wave is upon us, our Health & Social Care team is providing an update on the state of play in key areas.

The Government has announced a new national lockdown for England from 5 November to 2 December which has led to significant changes to the employment support schemes available to employers.

The Government has announced a new national lockdown for England from 5 November to 2 December which has led to significant changes to the employment support schemes available to employers.

The Migration Advisory Committee has today recommended that care managers and proprietors, senior care workers and nursing assistants be added to the Shortage Occupation List. It is a move that will be welcomed by a sector facing significant staffing shortages over the next decade.

A flurry of recent court rulings on compliance with the National Minimum Wage (“NMW”) highlight the complexity of this area of law and the need for care providers to check their pay arrangements are compliant.

Businesses face difficult decisions over the coming months as furlough comes to an end and the reality of the new order starts to become clear. For businesses this might involve redundancies or employees moving on as the job market reopens. Either way, there is likely to be movement within the jobs market. Employers therefore need to be aware of the increased risks that leavers pose in terms of confidential information and intellectual property whilst employees continue to work from home.

A recent study by the Daily Express indicated that there has been a significant increase (66%) in complaints made by care staff to CQC during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the majority of concerns raised relating to infection control, social distancing and a lack of PPE.