Feature Articles

Looking back to December 2019, before the world was irrevocably changed by the Covid pandemic, employers had another issue on their minds: the Employment Bill. This much lauded piece of legislation, containing many of the recommendations from the Taylor Review and subsequent Good Work Plan, was set to bring in a raft of new rights for employees and make Britain the “best place to work in the world”.

From 6 April 2022, parents in Northern Ireland will finally be given rights that parents in England, Wales and Scotland have had since 6 April 2020: the right to take time off following the death or stillbirth of their, or their partner’s, child.

Employers often find absence a tricky thing to manage. There is a need to balance compassion for the individual, the realities of life (we all get ill or injured at some point) and the sound running of the business. What must employers consider when applying absence management policies?

Recent years have seen a growing awareness of the need for employers to address mental health issues at work and to provide adequate support for their staff. Martin Hodgson looks at seven ways in which adult social care employers and managers can help to support staff wellbeing and mental health in their organisations.

Improving wellbeing in the workplace has been proven to increase employee satisfaction and productivity. Nicola Jagielski from Health Assured suggests some ideas to support employee wellbeing.

What is mental health discrimination at work and how can organisations avoid it?

Ramadan is the holy month of the Islamic Calendar during which Muslims partake in religious observance, including ritual fasting from sunrise to sunset. This year, Ramadan is expected to run from 2 April to 1 May 2022 and we have outlined some key ways to support staff during this period.

The Government has launched its long-awaited consultation on proposed changes to the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 Code of Practice (the Code), which includes guidance on the implementation of the new Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) system. The new draft Code is a lengthy document and it is worth highlighting the areas with which social care practitioners need to familiarise themselves. Christine Grey investigates.

Since the repeal of the laws mandating vaccination for those in care homes and wider health and social care, in England on 15 March 2022, employers in care homes are faced with the difficult decision as to whether or not they should re-employ unvaccinated staff they dismissed and on what terms to do this.

Since the Winterbourne View scandal in 2011 and the uncovering of abuse at Whorlton Hall in 2019, there has been a recognition that the system needs to be reformed to prevent more failings in care for people with learning disabilities and autism. Last year the Government admitted that the pandemic had been a “setback” in efforts to reach this goal. By the end of last year there were suggestions that too little progress had been made in providing this group with the right, appropriate care. Christine Grey investigates the issue of whether policy and legislative reform achieved during 2021 will drive real change in care provision this year.