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• Deakin & Ors v Kuehne & Anor
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether employer misconstrued clause in collective agreement between union and employers' federation concerning breaks from work. (27 January, 2012)
• Riniker v City and Islington College Corp
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers permission to appeal against an Employment Appeal Tribunal decision following non-compliance with an 'Unless Order', in case where teacher was dismissed for gross misconduct. (27 January, 2012)
• D and S, R (on the application of) v Manchester City Council
  New High Court judgment that considers whether local authority's decision to reduce its adult social care budget was unlawful because it was taken without due regard to its duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Equality Act 2010; and whether ongoing consultation on its 'Revised Social Care Offer' breached the common law duty of fairness. (27 January, 2012)
• Employment Tribunals (Increase of Maximum Deposit) Order 2012
  New regulations substitute maximum sum of deposit that may be specified in regulations authorising employment tribunals to order payment of deposit if a party wishes to continue to participate in proceedings, replacing £500 with £1,000. (27 January, 2012)
• Employment Law Update
  Issue 118 of Garden Court Chambers' Employment Law Bulletin is now available. (27 January, 2012)
• Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2012
  New regulations bring into force provisions including requiring landlords to comply with pre-action requirements before commencing court proceedings where a tenant has rent arrears. (26 January, 2012)
• Kuehne & Ors v Revenue and Customs
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether payments made to employees after transfer of employment were liable to income tax and national insurance contributions. (26 January, 2012)
• Family debts up by almost 50 per cent in a year
  Aviva Family Finances report shows that the typical UK family owes £7,944 in unsecured borrowing compared with £5,360 in January 2011, reports guardian.co.uk. (26 January, 2012)
• Social care data analysis tool
  New tool developed by Ofsted to produce pre-inspection data briefings to support contact, referral and assessment inspections, and safeguarding looked after children inspections. (26 January, 2012)
• Northern households significantly more vulnerable to financial shocks than rest of UK
  Report published by Consumer Credit Counselling Service reveals an 'alarming' North-South divide in household finances. (26 January, 2012)
• Mortgage Express v Butcher & Anor
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers application by mortgage company for extension of time for appealing against decision that tenant had an right to lifetime occupancy of property as victim of fraudulent equity release scheme. (25 January, 2012)
• Cook v The Mortgage Business Plc
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers appeals against possession orders by equity release scheme vendors who had defaulted on mortgage payments. (25 January, 2012)
• Health Select Committee publishes review of public expenditure in health and social care
  Report argues that there needs to be more integration between health and social care to reduce number of people needing hospital treatment, which is often more expensive. (25 January, 2012)
• Welsh government will give greater power and control to people who receive care
  New Social Services Bill will give users a legal set of rights, and offer more chances for people to be in charge of their own care budgets, reports bbc.co.uk. (25 January, 2012)
• Assessment of equity release pilot schemes
  New Joseph Rowntree Foundation report assesses schemes run by three local authorities to trial an equity release product designed to provide small amounts without any adverse impact on benefits. (25 January, 2012)
• Weddall v Barchester Healthcare Ltd
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether employer is vicariously liable for injuries suffered by employees as a result of violence by another employee. (24 January, 2012)
• Broadway Care Centre Ltd, R (on the application of) v Caerphilly County Borough Council
  New High Court judgment that considers decision of Local Authority to terminate contract to provide care for elderly dementia suffers at care home. (24 January, 2012)
• Shelter responds to comments from Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
  Iain Duncan Smith said that, according to Shelter, a family where children share a bedroom would be defined as homeless, which is simply not true, says Shelter's chief executive Campbell Robb. (24 January, 2012)
• Rough sleepers who attended No Second Night Out hub were half as likely to return to streets
  Report published by Homeless Link shows that only 16 per cent of rough sleepers who attended the Hub were seen sleeping rough again, compared to 34 per cent of those who did not attend the Hub. (23 January, 2012)
• Tackling Bad Debt in the Water Industry
  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs consultation seeks views on an alternative, non-regulatory approach to tackling bad debt from unpaid water charges than landlords sharing information about tenants to water companies. (23 January, 2012)

More news in other areas of social welfare law

Debt

• Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2012
  New regulations bring into force provisions including requiring landlords to comply with pre-action requirements before commencing court proceedings where a tenant has rent arrears. (26 January, 2012)
• Family debts up by almost 50 per cent in a year
  Aviva Family Finances report shows that the typical UK family owes £7,944 in unsecured borrowing compared with £5,360 in January 2011, reports guardian.co.uk. (26 January, 2012)
• Northern households significantly more vulnerable to financial shocks than rest of UK
  Report published by Consumer Credit Counselling Service reveals an 'alarming' North-South divide in household finances. (26 January, 2012)
• Mortgage Express v Butcher & Anor
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers application by mortgage company for extension of time for appealing against decision that tenant had an right to lifetime occupancy of property as victim of fraudulent equity release scheme. (25 January, 2012)
• Cook v The Mortgage Business Plc
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers appeals against possession orders by equity release scheme vendors who had defaulted on mortgage payments. (25 January, 2012)
• Assessment of equity release pilot schemes
  New Joseph Rowntree Foundation report assesses schemes run by three local authorities to trial an equity release product designed to provide small amounts without any adverse impact on benefits. (25 January, 2012)
• Tackling Bad Debt in the Water Industry
  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs consultation seeks views on an alternative, non-regulatory approach to tackling bad debt from unpaid water charges than landlords sharing information about tenants to water companies. (23 January, 2012)
• Increased protection for customers where debt collection transferred to third parties
  Lending Standards Board publishes new provisions which include that where a debt is sold, subscribers to Lending Code need to satisfy themselves that debt purchaser will continue to deal with customers in a manner consistent with requirements in Code. (20 January, 2012)
• Horler v Rubin & Ors
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether trustee was personally liable for misapplying proceeds of sale of company. (19 January, 2012)
• More than one in five people cut spending on gas and electricity to pay rent or mortgage
  New Shelter research also shows that 34 per cent of people have spent less on food in the last 12 months. (19 January, 2012)
• Financial Ombudsman Service - Efficient handling of financial services complaints
  National Audit Office publishes review of the efficiency of operations of the Financial Ombudsman Service. (17 January, 2012)
• 43 per cent of people worried they can’t afford next fuel billl
  New figures published by Citizens Advice also show that 53 per cent of people are having heating on less to cut energy bills. (16 January, 2012)
• Research predicts rise in demand for debt advice in first half of 2012
  Research published by Money Advice Trust shows that number of people getting help from free debt advice agencies increased in 2011 to 1.54 million, up from 1.4 million in 2010. (11 January, 2012)
• Almost one million people have taken out payday loan to help pay their rent or mortgage
  New survey from Shelter also shows that almost seven million people are relying on credit to help pay housing costs. (04 January, 2012)
• Parents who cannot afford to heat their home not getting help from energy suppliers
  Government's Warm Home Discount reaches just 3 per cent of families at risk of fuel poverty and leaves 800,000 families in the cold, says Save the Children. (04 January, 2012)
• More people aged between 25 and 34 are turning to Debt Relief Orders than any other age group
  Figures published by The Insolvency Service show that one in four people with Debt Relief Orders fall within this age group. (03 January, 2012)
• Cancer patients relying on charity handouts to pay for fuel bills
  Macmillan Cancer Support has paid £2,548,563 to 12,669 cancer patients during 2011, up from £1.4m to 7,369 patients five years ago, reports bbc.co.uk. (03 January, 2012)
• Reaction to Financial Services Authority Mortgage Market Review
  Leading organisations issue responses to publication of mortgage review. (20 December, 2011)
• Debt Collection - supplementary Office of Fair Trading consultation
  Consultation seeks views on specific practice of debiting money from an account in absence of having express authority to do so. (20 December, 2011)
• New plans to ‘put common sense at heart of mortgage lending’
  Financial Services Authority Mortgage Market Review aims to prevent recurrence of 'irresponsible lending' based on assumption that house prices would always rise. (19 December, 2011)

More news in Debt

Housing

• Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2012
  New regulations bring into force provisions including requiring landlords to comply with pre-action requirements before commencing court proceedings where a tenant has rent arrears. (26 January, 2012)
• Mortgage Express v Butcher & Anor
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers application by mortgage company for extension of time for appealing against decision that tenant had an right to lifetime occupancy of property as victim of fraudulent equity release scheme. (25 January, 2012)
• Cook v The Mortgage Business Plc
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers appeals against possession orders by equity release scheme vendors who had defaulted on mortgage payments. (25 January, 2012)
• Assessment of equity release pilot schemes
  New Joseph Rowntree Foundation report assesses schemes run by three local authorities to trial an equity release product designed to provide small amounts without any adverse impact on benefits. (25 January, 2012)
• Shelter responds to comments from Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
  Iain Duncan Smith said that, according to Shelter, a family where children share a bedroom would be defined as homeless, which is simply not true, says Shelter's chief executive Campbell Robb. (24 January, 2012)
• Rough sleepers who attended No Second Night Out hub were half as likely to return to streets
  Report published by Homeless Link shows that only 16 per cent of rough sleepers who attended the Hub were seen sleeping rough again, compared to 34 per cent of those who did not attend the Hub. (23 January, 2012)
• Tackling Bad Debt in the Water Industry
  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs consultation seeks views on an alternative, non-regulatory approach to tackling bad debt from unpaid water charges than landlords sharing information about tenants to water companies. (23 January, 2012)
• Housing Law Update
  Issue 249 of Garden Court Chambers' Housing Law Bulletin is now available. (23 January, 2012)
• More than one in five people cut spending on gas and electricity to pay rent or mortgage
  New Shelter research also shows that 34 per cent of people have spent less on food in the last 12 months. (19 January, 2012)
• Pimlott v Varcity Accommodation Ltd
  New High Court judgment that considers whether Rent Assessment Committee erred in taking as its starting point a rent for a comparable house let under an assured shorthold rather than assured periodic tenancy. (18 January, 2012)
• Government announces local authority funding allocations of £20 million Disabled Facilities Grant
  Grant provides financial assistance for housing adaptations to help older and disabled people continue living in their homes for longer. (18 January, 2012)
• Councils should help older people live at home for longer
  Ministers call on councils to make use of New Deal for Older People to enable choice and control over where people live, so they are not pressured to sell their home or move into residential care. (17 January, 2012)
• Localism Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provision) Order 2012
  New regulations bring into force provisions of the Localism Act, including in relation to allocation of social housing and social housing tenancy strategies. (17 January, 2012)
• Housing Law Update
  Issue 248 of Garden Court Chambers' Housing Law Bulletin is now available. (16 January, 2012)
• Updated National Standards to define acceptable behaviour for bailiffs
  New National Standards for Enforcement Agents published by Ministry of Justice shows that voluntary code has been tightened so that people are protected from rogue bailiffs who use unsound, unsafe or unfair methods. (13 January, 2012)
• Social housing standards in Wales not met
  Wales Audit Office reports shows improvements in quality of housing for many tenants, but Welsh Housing Quality Standard will not be met for some time. (13 January, 2012)
• Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No.2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2012
  New regulations bring into force provisions, including amending various parts of Houses in Multiple Occupation licensing regime in Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. (13 January, 2012)
• National Housing Federation supports proposals to tackle illegal subletting
  With so many people requiring affordable housing, tenancy fraud is unfair on the large numbers of people on waiting lists, says Federation. (12 January, 2012)
• Social Housing Fraud - Consultation
  Department for Communities and Local Government consultation puts forward proposals that would help landlords reduce prevalence of tenancy fraud within social housing. (12 January, 2012)
• St Mungo’s and Central London Samaritans launch new emotional support service for homeless people
  New fortnightly sessions are first that Central London Samaritans have based in one hostel but the service is open to all St Mungo's residents. (12 January, 2012)

More news in Housing

Employment

• Deakin & Ors v Kuehne & Anor
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether employer misconstrued clause in collective agreement between union and employers' federation concerning breaks from work. (27 January, 2012)
• Riniker v City and Islington College Corp
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers permission to appeal against an Employment Appeal Tribunal decision following non-compliance with an 'Unless Order', in case where teacher was dismissed for gross misconduct. (27 January, 2012)
• Employment Tribunals (Increase of Maximum Deposit) Order 2012
  New regulations substitute maximum sum of deposit that may be specified in regulations authorising employment tribunals to order payment of deposit if a party wishes to continue to participate in proceedings, replacing £500 with £1,000. (27 January, 2012)
• Employment Law Update
  Issue 118 of Garden Court Chambers' Employment Law Bulletin is now available. (27 January, 2012)
• Kuehne & Ors v Revenue and Customs
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether payments made to employees after transfer of employment were liable to income tax and national insurance contributions. (26 January, 2012)
• Weddall v Barchester Healthcare Ltd
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether employer is vicariously liable for injuries suffered by employees as a result of violence by another employee. (24 January, 2012)
• Mediation pilot scheme launched
  Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will fund mediation training for employees from a group of 24 small and medium-sized enterprises in each of the pilot areas. (23 January, 2012)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (23 January, 2012)
• Fees to take claims to employment tribunals could have a huge impact on ensuring equality at work
  TUC warns it will be harder to get proper enforcement and compliance with the law as employers will know that they face little realistic prospect of being held to account. (20 January, 2012)
• Unemployment rate rises to 8.4 per cent
  New Office for National Statistics figures show that UK unemployment has risen to 2.68m, up 118,000 in the three months to November. (18 January, 2012)
• Exception to law banning age discrimination in employment in urgent need of clarification
  Equality and Human Rights Commission will use cases heard in Supreme Court to seek clarity on interpretation of rule that allows employers to justify age discrimination if they can prove it is a 'proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim'. (18 January, 2012)
• Deputy Prime Minister urges companies to offer shares to employees
  Employee ownership will 'improve productivity, unlock growth and lead to less staff turnover, higher productivity and higher wages', reports bbc.co.uk. (16 January, 2012)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (16 January, 2012)
• 30 per cent decrease in overall claims to Employment Tribunals compared to previous year
  Ministry of Justice publishes Quarterly Tribunals Statistics for second quarter 2011 which also show a 16 per cent fall in disposals. (13 January, 2012)
• Hundreds of women have won equal pay settlement from Edinburgh Council
  City of Edinburgh Council have agreed to settle all outstanding equal pay cases and withdraw an appeal lodged with the Supreme Court, reports bbc.co.uk. (13 January, 2012)
• Councils given go-ahead to tackle pay inequalities
  Local government employees are now legally entitled to backdated pay following years of being paid less for equally valued jobs, says Communities Minister. (11 January, 2012)
• Employment Law Update
  Issue 117 of Garden Court Chambers' Employment Law Bulletin is now available. (10 January, 2012)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (09 January, 2012)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (03 January, 2012)
• Brumwell v Powys County Council
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether agreement to occupy bungalow as part of employment on camp site was a sham. (22 December, 2011)

More news in Employment

Community care

• D and S, R (on the application of) v Manchester City Council
  New High Court judgment that considers whether local authority's decision to reduce its adult social care budget was unlawful because it was taken without due regard to its duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Equality Act 2010; and whether ongoing consultation on its 'Revised Social Care Offer' breached the common law duty of fairness. (27 January, 2012)
• Social care data analysis tool
  New tool developed by Ofsted to produce pre-inspection data briefings to support contact, referral and assessment inspections, and safeguarding looked after children inspections. (26 January, 2012)
• Health Select Committee publishes review of public expenditure in health and social care
  Report argues that there needs to be more integration between health and social care to reduce number of people needing hospital treatment, which is often more expensive. (25 January, 2012)
• Welsh government will give greater power and control to people who receive care
  New Social Services Bill will give users a legal set of rights, and offer more chances for people to be in charge of their own care budgets, reports bbc.co.uk. (25 January, 2012)
• Broadway Care Centre Ltd, R (on the application of) v Caerphilly County Borough Council
  New High Court judgment that considers decision of Local Authority to terminate contract to provide care for elderly dementia suffers at care home. (24 January, 2012)
• Government announces local authority funding allocations of £20 million Disabled Facilities Grant
  Grant provides financial assistance for housing adaptations to help older and disabled people continue living in their homes for longer. (18 January, 2012)
• Councils should help older people live at home for longer
  Ministers call on councils to make use of New Deal for Older People to enable choice and control over where people live, so they are not pressured to sell their home or move into residential care. (17 January, 2012)
• Cross party talks on social care reform to begin this week
  To coincide with start of the talks, Age UK publishes statistics that suggest the majority of public want to see social care system changed, reports bbc.co.uk. (16 January, 2012)
• Government accepts latest recommendations from NHS Future Forum
  Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announces that recommendation areas accepted include education and training, integrated care, NHS's role in public health and information provision to patients and GPs. (10 January, 2012)
• David Cameron calls for health and social care services to be brought together
  Prime Minister wants changes to make life more convenient for patients, improve care and save the NHS money, reports guardian.co.uk. (05 January, 2012)
• Integrated care for patients and populations: Improving outcomes by working together
  The Kings Fund publishes report to Department of Health and NHS Future Forum which examines what barriers to integrated care need to be overcome and what can be done to provide a supporting framework. (05 January, 2012)
• Politicians urged to work together to find way to overhaul ‘failing’ social care system in England
  Charities, faith-based groups and senior figures in the NHS and local government write open letter which calls for cross-party action on social care reform, reports bbc.co.uk. (03 January, 2012)
• Help for older people to continue living comfortably in their own homes
  New £51m government funding towards Home Improvement Agencies will provide help and advice including housing advice and assistance to move to more suitable accommodation if needed. (03 January, 2012)
• Cancer patients relying on charity handouts to pay for fuel bills
  Macmillan Cancer Support has paid £2,548,563 to 12,669 cancer patients during 2011, up from £1.4m to 7,369 patients five years ago, reports bbc.co.uk. (03 January, 2012)
• Local Government Association responds to government consultation on future of social care
  System of care and support for older and disabled people must be simplified and adequately funded to meet demands of ageing population, says LGA. (03 January, 2012)
• Carers Strategies (Wales) Regulations 2011
  New regulations that require Local Health Board in Wales to work together with local authorities in preparing and publishing a strategy setting out how they will work together to assist and include carers in the arrangements made for those they care for. (23 December, 2011)
• CJ, R (On the Application Of) v Cardiff City Council
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers local authority's determination of the age of an asylum seeker who claimed to be a child, for the purposes of assessing entitlement to support under the Children Act 1989. (22 December, 2011)
• NHS whistleblowing helpline extended to social care staff
  Helpline for NHS staff and social care will give workers opportunity to report abuse or raise concerns about patient and service user safety. (22 December, 2011)
• Rajput & Anor, R (On the Application Of) v East Sussex County Council
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether local authorities had sufficient regard to duties under Disability Discrimination Act 2005 in decisions as to level of care needed by appellants. (20 December, 2011)
• Care Quality Commission has ‘started to make real impact on quality and safety of care’
  Alan Rosenbach, special policy lead of Commission, responds to public and parliamentary scrutiny in Guardian article. (20 December, 2011)

More news in Community care

• County Welfare Officer — Royal British Legion
• Advice and Information Worker — Grandparents Plus
• LSC Welfare Benefits Caseworker — Pembrokeshire Citizens Advice Bureau
• LSC Welfare Benefits Caseworker or Self Supervisor (One Post) — East End CAB

• Volunteer Gateway Assessors — Bath and North East Somerset Citizens Advice Bureau
• Volunteer Information Guides/Receptionists — Bath and North East Somerset Citizens Advice Bureau
• Volunteer Information Guides — Bath and North East Somerset Citizens Advice Bureau