Heptonstalls Solicitors

Employment Law Update – November 2009

BLOWING THE WHISTLE There are a number of circumstances in which workers can legitimately blow the whistle on malpractice at work. We provide an overview of the legislation governing this area.

REPUTATION AT STAKE Employees can be dismissed for doing something that impacts on the reputation of their employer. We look at a case which said that dismissing a chaplain for doing a media interview could not be fair as the company had not even bothered to listen to the interview.

COLLECTIVE RIGHTS Under European law, employers are required to inform and consult workers in the event of making collective redundancies. We look at a case that said that employers must start the process of consultation as soon as they decide to contemplate collective redundancies.

IN BRIEF The Government recently published another consultation document on draft regulations to implement the EU Agency Workers Directive into domestic law.

Click the link to read more: Heptonstalls Employment Law Update – Nov 09

Care Proceedings – The Facts

Karen Logan Low resThe thought of someone taking your children away is frightening and distressing for anyone, even if the people involved are doing it because they think it is best for the children.

Taking children away should be the last step the council takes to make sure they are safe and well cared for.  If the council is concerned about about a child’s welfare it must look closely at the child’s situation.  It should normally offer help to the family and find ways of keeping the child safe. The family should be involved in the decisions made about a child.

Some of the ways the council can help is to offer a family group conference , this is a meeting between the council usually a social worker and members of the child’s family, who can suggest plans for keeping the child safe and well cared for.  Professionals such as social workers, police, and doctors only join in for part of the conference.

If the council has lots of concerns relating to a child then it may make arrangements for a Child Protection Conference, this is a meeting arranged by the council to decide whether it needs to make a Child protection plan for the child.  As part of this plan the council may offer help in looking after the child.

This meeting will include people and organisations that are involved with the child such as doctors, social workers, health visitors and schools.  Families who are worried about attending the meeting can take a friend or a solicitor who specialises in this area with them.

The last resort from the council should all the meetings break down is care proceedings.  The council can apply to the courts for a Care order.  Should the council start proceedings, then unless it is a real emergency the family will receive a letter advising that it is the councils intention to do this.  Anyone who receives a letter such as this must seek specialised legal advice.

That’s where Heptonstalls can help. They have, for many years, helped clients through these difficult times offering legal advice and support.

Solcitors can attend the child protection conferences with you and kept you fully advised at all stages, whether working with the local authority and or Care Proceedings.

For more information call Karen Logan on 01405 765661.

© Heptonstalls Solicitors 2010.

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