DBS email address changing
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has announced email address changes. "@dbs.gsi.gov.uk" has changed to "@dbs.gov.uk". There will be an email divert in place until March 2019, but schools and colleges should take steps to update contact lists as soon as possible.
Government publishes new guide for schools and UTCs
In September 2018, the Government published departmental advice for school leaders, governing bodies, and academy trusts to help school leaders inform their decision making. It covers recruitment, TUPE transfers, safeguarding and appointment checks and staff management.
Irwin Mitchell help parents launch campaign to challenge government over Special Educational Needs (SEN) “national crisis”
The families of two boys, who have special educational needs, have launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring a legal challenge against the government to increase funding to local authorities.
They believe that current government grants are leaving local authorities without enough money to fulfil their legal obligation of providing care for pupils with a range of disabilities and conditions.
School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Order came into effect on 1 September 2018
Provisions are made for the remuneration and conditions of employment of school teachers in England and Wales, to be determined by reference to the provisions set out in section 2 of the “School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2018 and Guidance on School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions”. These came into effect on 1 September 2018.
Right to unpaid time off work for volunteers in criminal justice system
On 1 October 2018, certain employees who volunteer in the criminal justice system have the right to take unpaid time off from their employment to undertake this work.
The Time Off for Public Duties Order 2018 applies to four groups of volunteers that monitor conditions of those in custody. They are the Lay Observers (who monitor conditions in court custody and in cellular vehicles), the Independent Prison Monitors (who monitor conditions in Scottish prisons), the Immigration Visiting Committees (who monitor conditions in Immigration Removal Centres), and the Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF) Visiting Committees (who monitor conditions at immigration facilities at ports and airports).
Employment claims rise at highest rate for five years
New figures published by the Ministry of Justice show that in the period from April to June 2018, the number of single claims received by the Employment Tribunal increased by 165% when compared to the same quarter in 2017.
Fees were abolished in July 2016 and, since then, we’ve seen a steady increase in the number of claims issued. Despite this, figures are still lower than those that applied before fees were introduced.
The figures also reveal that only 53 claimants brought claims out of time (out of almost 11,000 single claims). This indicates that fewer individuals are arguing that they did not bring claims earlier because of fees.
Report into #metoo shows gender discrimination widespread at work
A major new report from Young Women’s Trust has found that, despite the #MeToo movement and reforms including gender pay gap reporting, millions of women continue to lose out in the workplace – and mental health inequalities have got worse.
The survey of 4,000 young people shows that, nearly a year on from #MeToo, a third of young women do not know how to report sexual harassment at work and a quarter would be reluctant to do so for fear of losing their job.
EU workers will not get priority after Brexit
According to news reports, the cabinet has unanimously agreed that EU nationals should be subject to the same immigration rules as those from elsewhere once the UK has left the EU. The decision follows a recommendation from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.
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