6500 new teachers and 5000 new Taxmen
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National Care Service, Employment Rights Bill (ERB), Social Care Workforce Strategy, Devolution, Fair Work Agency (a SUPER regulator), Skills England, GB Energy... All topics covered in expert detail at the excellent APSCo Business Forum hosted by Brabners in Manchester yesterday. Thank you to host and expert panelist Simon Whitehead for his POV and insights, and to all the APSCo team for theirs, Tania Bowers & Moya Rylands. Some detail... It all said to me, recruit with CONFIDENCE. The implications for recruitment and HR management in #socialcare are fascinating but the nitty gritty (subject to consultation) realistically says; so long as you are an #employerwhocares, set out clear expectations and follow fair processes, you have little or nothing to fear! Regarding Zero Hours Contracts, implications for #HomeCare providers must require changes to LA booking and funding, to ensure average 12 week rates can be offered where zero hours is the norm. Otherwise, they'll simply boost big providers at the expense of SME's, which is and cannot be the aim for the reason of (...see conclusion below). Regarding the ERB. Much drama is being made of Unfair Dismissal Rights from day one. With no suggestion of changes to Statutory Notice and/or PILON, simply make clear what the expectations are in month's 1, 2 and 3, check, document & decide. It's a tiny few who don't already. In short, no drama. The National Care Service, a fantastic aspiration, intertwined with honourable intentions such as Collective Pay Agreements will require lengthy consultation and sector engagement. Otherwise they won't become reality without also being competition killers i.e. the NMW/Living Wage (increased ~20% in the last 2 years) topic is most significant for workers. Whereas #employerswhocare must make their voices heard on Worker vs Temporary Worker vs Self Employed status changes, including the related implications of IR35 & Tax. This stuff is separate to the ERB and already watered down! For me, the BIGGEST opportunity of the lot sits in the Skills England piece and the proposed shake up of Apprenticeships. If we could get impactful skills based training funded, not just lengthy qualifications with (sometimes excessive) theory, I think that would be best for national productivity. This raises questions like, what qualifies as a fundable short course? What standard of trainer could/should be supported? Exactly how impactful is e-learning? What is the place of e-learning in this picture (with implementation being key)? Interested in the thoughts of Samantha Atkins, Roy Ripper, Mitch Sullivan, Dave Lewis, David Davies on those Q's. There's one reason underpinning all these conclusions. ALL future funding decisions depend on economic growth because the existing budget is fully committed. Which explains why, along with 6500 new teachers, we're also getting 5000 new Taxmen.