Employment Rights & Responsibilities 1August 2012

Objectives Explore aspects of employment law Explore your roles and responsibilities as a social care worker Consider your career pathway within social care Following research, be bale to discuss an area or concern in either the HSC or CYP sector August 20122

What information would you expect in a contract of employment? August 20123

Contracts of Employment A contract of employment sets out the things that will affect you at work. It should include: Your name, the employer’s name Date when your employment began Your hours of work Holiday entitlement Details of sick pay Your pension Your notice period Your job description Where you will be located 4August 2012

Legislation There are a number of laws in place to protect you as an employee. Employment Rights Act 1996 The central principle is: All employees are entitled to be given a written statement which sets out the main terms and conditions of employment- this is known as your job contract or your job description. 5August 2012

Employment Laws There are other laws that protect you at work. These cover: Equal Pay (men and women) How many hours a week you can be asked to work The treatment of part-time workers Minimum wage Holiday entitlement Statutory sick pay Paternity and maternity leave 6August 2012

Equal Opportunity Laws The main laws of Equality: Sex Discrimination Act 1975 Race Discrimination Act 1976 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 The Equal Pay Act 1970 The Employment Relations Act August 2012

Where to access help and support on matters relating to employment? August 20128

Know Your Rights Help is available from: Your company Trade unions Citizens’ Advice Bureau 9August 2012

Career Pathways Plan your route from where you are today to where you would like to be in the future –Think about a specific career –Qualifications you might need to get there –Time frames –Who might help you. August

ERR task D Give a clear and accurate description of the issue or public concern. Outline differing points of view regarding the issues such as saving money versus good care practice, personalisation versus professional expertise, safeguarding versus state intervention. Describe how services are affected by the issue or area of concern such as changes to regulations, closure of services, changing from public provision to private or third sector provision, increased involvement of individuals using the service, changes to safeguarding practice. Describe in general how public opinion of care practice is affected by issues or areas of concern such as anger and change of political allegiances at closures or changes to services, becoming more involved as informal carers, anger at failures to protect leading to public demands for change. Examples include; –Winterbourne View –Cornwall report –Six lives enquiry (MENCAP) –Christopher Clunis –Steven Hoskins –Baby P –Mid Staffordshire NHS enquiry –Changes to government funding –Bristol Royal infirmary enquiry into children’s heart surgery –Local or national stories relating to care practice August