End Of Year 2025. YOUR HOME. THEIR WORKPLACE.

YOUR HOME, THEIR WORKPLACE - Season 3, Episode 5 with Karen Mitchell on working with an independent HR professional.

Cecily and Karen reunited after more than a year to discuss how an independent HR professional can help implement recent HR and employment law changes affecting families and small organisations employing care staff. Karen explained the value of independent HR support, describing it as a more personalised and practical alternative to HR advice services. The conversation covered the key essentials employers should have in place, including written contracts, right-to-work and DBS checks, accurate payroll and holiday records, and proper policies around areas such as health and safety, medication, GDPR, and social media. Karen stressed the importance of clear onboarding and good record-keeping from day one. Karen also discussed how HR software can simplify managing shifts, payroll, holidays, and staff records while improving transparency and compliance. They also explored the launch of the new Fair Work Agency (FWA) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/fair-work-agency [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/fair-work-agency]), which has strong powers to investigate issues such as holiday pay, sick pay, and minimum wage compliance. A major theme throughout the episode was the importance of trust, boundaries, and communication when care takes place inside a private home. Karen highlighted the benefits of clear expectations, regular staff check-ins, detailed job descriptions, and ongoing training to help prevent problems before they escalate. The episode concluded with a discussion about the continuous service requirement to claim unfair dismissal, which, from January 2027, will decrease from two years to six months. This may affect probationary periods. Karen explained why structured probation processes and early conversations are becoming increasingly important. To contact Karen: Find her on her website: https://www.kmhrsolutions.co.uk/ [https://www.kmhrsolutions.co.uk/] Email: karen.mitchell@kmhrsolutions.co.uk Contact: 01280 733459 Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her newsletter, and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com. Contact Cecily directly for a copy of her book.

YOUR HOME, THEIR WORKPLACE - Season 3, Episode 4 with Dr. Tom Matthew talking about your wellbeing when managing care staff in your home.

YOUR HOME, THEIR WORKPLACE - Season 3, Episode 4 with Dr. Tom Matthew talking about your wellbeing when managing care staff in your home In this episode, Cecily is joined by Tom Matthew, a former NHS GP, to explore emotional wellbeing and the challenges faced by families who become employers of care staff at home. They discuss the pressures of balancing caregiving with leadership, as well as managing various 'departments' such as occupational therapy, HR department, payroll, and more .Dr Matthew explains how emotional intelligence — particularly self-awareness and self-regulation — can improve communication and decision-making. Tom shares practical tools for managing stress, staying calm in difficult situations, and creating space before reacting. The conversation also highlights the importance of empathy, clear boundaries that are seen as positive, and aligning the family's personal and professional values to build healthy working relationships. Tom introduces frameworks such as Transactional Analysis and the Drama Triangle, offering insight into more effective, respectful communication. A valuable episode for anyone navigating caregiving, leadership, or emotionally demanding environments along with the difficult task of managing employees in the home. To Contact Tom, Find him on his website https://mbewellness.com/ or Email drmathhew@mbewellness.com Contact 07301574706 or Linkedin www.linkedin.com//in/dr-matthew-4361b5b2 [http://www.linkedin.com//in/dr-matthew-4361b5b2] Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com [http://cecilylalloo.com] Contact Cecily direct for a copy of her book.

YOUR HOME, THEIR WORKPLACE - Season 3, Episode 3 with Marc Jones

This March episode is being published earlier than normal because of some significant employment law changes. We encourage you, if you've not done so already, to talk to your HR provider to ensure that policies, procedures and practical management is in place. Managing people well is so important so that employment costs don't spiral. In this episode, Cecily is joined by specialist employment solicitor and mediator Marc Jones to discuss the major employment law changes coming into force in 2026 and 2027 under the Employment Rights Act. Marc explains how these reforms will affect employers, particularly in the care sector, and outlines key updates including day-one rights to statutory sick pay, changes to paternity and parental leave eligibility, also new protections around sexual harassment and whistleblowing, and the creation of the Fair Work Agency to strengthen workplace enforcement. The conversation also covers expanded flexible working rights, new bereavement leave provisions, and the reduction of the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from two years to six months. Marc highlights the importance of preparing early by reviewing employment contracts, updating workplace policies, and ensuring managers understand the upcoming changes. Where Marc refers to 'business' this includes employers who employ care staff in their own homes. Click on this link below to listen to Marc's previous chat with Cecily where he talked about the employment contract. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1dFRQgS1sRhSCsU2EUdnCL?si=F4b1naaDTVWOo48sqXn6Xw This is also available on Apple Podcasts and other major platforms. To Contact Marc, Find him on Marjon Law Website https://www.marjonlaw.co.uk/ [https://www.marjonlaw.co.uk/] or Email info@marjonlaw.co.uk [info@marjonlaw.co.uk] or Contact 0333 5333 0606 Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com [http://cecilylalloo.com] Contact Cecily direct for a copy of her book.

YOUR HOME, THEIR WORKPLACE - Season 3, Episode 2 with Sarah Clayton of Simple Stuff Works

Sarah Clayton founded Simple Stuff Works to provide practical equipment and training that supports postural care and prevents avoidable complications for people with limited mobility. In this episode, she shares how her background in education and research led her to build a role that didn't previously exist. We explore how gravity affects body shape, comfort, and pressure risk — and why positioning must always be personalised. Sarah discusses the importance of collaboration between families, therapists, and care teams, using objective measures to guide decisions. She highlights the need for early intervention, regular reviews, and clear communication to manage both postural and pressure care effectively. The key message: simple, well-informed positioning strategies — delivered early and collaboratively — can significantly improve comfort, safety, and quality of life. In the chat with Cecily, Sarah mentioned a referral tool which she says "is also a fantastic resource for documenting a person's postural care provision - there are often multiple agencies involved which can quickly become overwhelming." Here are the links: Tool: https://changingourlives.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Postural-Care-Overview- MASTER.pdf Website: https://changingourlives.org/our-work/health-inequalities/ To Contact Sarah, Find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-clayton-simplestuffworks/? originalSubdomain=uk Or her website https://www.simplestuffworks.com/ Contact Cecily, buy her book, subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com.

YOUR HOME, THEIR WORKPLACE - Season 3, Episode 1 with Daniele Paige, Moving and Handling Practitioner and Trainer

In this episode, Cecily is joined by Dani, a specialist moving and handling practitioner, for an in-depth conversation on what moving and handling really involves — far beyond basic transfers. They explore the importance of comprehensive moving and handling assessments, why this work must be fully integrated into multidisciplinary team (MDT) care, and how collaboration between OTs, physios, carers, and specialists is essential for safety and dignity. The discussion dives into real-world challenges such as planning holidays for people with complex needs, including air travel, specialist equipment, and emergency evacuation plans. Dani shares practical insights into staff training, competency assessments, and why consistent education across all shifts is critical. A key part of the conversation focuses on adult intimacy and sex support in care settings — why avoiding the topic creates risk, how clear intimacy support plans protect both clients and carers, and the need for open, professional communication around boundaries, consent, and cultural sensitivities. The episode highlights the value of proper qualifications, honest scope-of-practice conversations, and tailored training plans to ensure safe, respectful, and holistic care. To Contact Dani : Visit her email dani@supportiveaction.com or find her on LinkedIn http://linkedin.com/in/daniele-paige Contact Cecily, buy her book, subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com.