Low Pay Commission 2025 Uprating Report
The Low Pay Commission has published a report about the new rates coming into effect from April 2025. The Homecare Association’s National Minimum Wage Toolkit for members, which has been revised to include the new rates, is also available at: Homecare Association's National Minimum Wage Toolkit.
Complaint concerns woman whose back was broken by home-help device when council withdrew care funding
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found that Croydon council thought they could replace paid care workers for overnight care, investigating a complaint by a woman who fractured her spine using a bed turning aid the NHS had installed. More from: Croydon woman’s back broken by home-help device when council withdrew care funding. Separately, the Ombudsman has reissued guidance on the principles of good administrative practice for councils.
Health and Care Act 2022: information standards
The Department of Health and Social Care has published an assessment of the impact of making information standards mandatory for public and private health, and adult social care providers in England. There is more information here.
Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel
The Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel has been updated to add clarity and streamline the guidance, and add two new scenarios and two new case studies.
My Vote My Voice campaign
The ‘My Vote My Voice’ campaign has published resources encouraging and supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people to vote in the May local elections. Guidance includes a quick guide to voting, easy read guides on how to register to vote and guidelines on the three ways people can vote in an election.
Care innovation challenge open for applications
A reminder, applications are open for the 2025 Challenge, which unites entrepreneurs and innovators, university students and care sector colleagues to create solutions to key challenges facing the care sector. More information here.
Making it happen together: what good care and support look like
The Workforce 'Together', 'I' and 'We' Statements framework was co-developed by and for care workers, care recipients, and family carers. Partners in Care and Health (the Local Government Association and ADASS) collaborated to transform these insights into clear statements. This framework aims to enhance workforce development, wellbeing, and care quality. (Source: Partners in Care and Health, 28 March 2025).
Neurodiversity at work
There is advice on the ACAS website about neurodiversity at work which considers understanding neurodiversity, including terms used, performance, conduct and capability and making organisations more inclusive.
Care Provider Alliance - new website
The Care Provider Alliance has a new website, so visitors can quickly find key areas of work and events, as well as access recordings, presentations and resources from past webinars. The website includes a discussion forum that people can register to use.
First aid at work: the basics for businesses
The Health and Safety Executive has 'Basics for your business' webpages which offer health and safety advice to any industry. There is a step-by-step guide on first aid in work explaining how you must have the right arrangements, including a first aid kit, training for workers, first aid for homeworkers and first aiders appointed.
