Questions and Answers

What information should be included in a fixed-term contract?

I manage a home for people with learning disabilities. One of our residents has decided that she wants “independent” advice about some aspects of her care. We regard this as a positive step on her part rather than a criticism of the home, but we are not sure how to proceed.

I am an athlete and wish to carry a few cans (aerosols) of non-medical oxygen in my checked baggage on an aeroplane to help recovery after exercise. Is this permitted?

A relative of one of our clients recently made a casual mention of “the triangle of care”. I didn’t like to admit that I had no idea what she was referring to. Can you enlighten?

Please give me a much-needed boost. So many firms seem to be going bust. Why is that and what can I do to keep my provision going?

Colleagues working in residential care in several areas of the country have the impression that cuts are currently being made in their local authorities’ services. But I read recently that Directors of Adult Services claim that budgets for old and disabled people have been “protected”. What is the truth?

What are the unfair dismissal and redundancy rights for fixed-term staff?

I am doing an audit of fixed-term staff in our school. What particular issues should I be looking for?

I have quite recently bought a pre-school. Last Christmas, the previous owner had a practitioner who turned up still intoxicated from the night before. I want to be prepared should a similar thing happen this year. What should I do?

We arrange for dangerous goods in tank containers to be transported from the supplier’s specified UK site to the customer’s specified site. However, when working on the continent we arrange for the tank containers to be transferred from the trailer and carried across Europe by rail, before being carried on the final part of the journey by road.

Do I require RAIL mode as well as ROAD mode DSGA coverage?