Defamation and the “serious harm” test – guidance from the High Court
However, the Act failed to define “serious harm” which has led to some uncertainty as to the threshold a Claimant must reach to prove that a statement is defamatory. The […]
What’s to come for social businesses?
The mood from colleagues in the community sector was sombre. Afzal Hussain, Chief Officer of Witton Lodge Community Association, reported that his organisation has seen footfall into their local centre rise […]
Doctors, nurses and midwives should tell patients when they make mistakes – the duty of candour
These are an extension of the “duty of candour” guidelines introduced for the NHS and private healthcare organisations. Previously the duty to tell a patient when a mistake had been […]
Government proposals to halve rate of stillbirths and infant deaths
The announcement follows the statement by Alan Cameron, Vice President of clinical quality at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Guidance at the Royal College of Midwives conference in Telford […]
Fraud in the Charity Sector
Charities operate in an environment of trust and this trust can easily be exploited at the expense of charity assets if trustees do not ensure that they take adequate fraud […]
LGPS ill-health pension benefits may be discretionary
Mrs R was employed by Trafford Council but resigned due to ill-health in August 2011. In June 2014 she applied for early payment of her deferred pension benefits in the […]
Contracting with housing associations
Value for money — RPs are required to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory standards, under which they are required to “understand the costs and outcomes of delivering specific services and which […]
Technical Update: Cost Sharing Groups
The exemption enables a cost sharing group (CSG) to supply services to its members without charging each other VAT where five criteria are met: the CSG is an ‘independent group […]
National Minimum Wage Consultation Response Published
The response has been published and the Government considers that the draft Consolidated Regulations correctly reflect the Government’s intended policy and recent case law relating to sleep-in time and will […]
Right to Buy for Housing Associations; what reality might look like
Pre-election the HA RTB was included in the list of promises that would be turned into action within the first 100 days. If the Conservatives were anticipating a minority Government they […]
Must we advertise all contracts valued over £25,000?
This is one area where the Crown Commercial Service guidance is correct. As that guidance says, “Where a contracting authority is satisfied that it is lawful not to advertise an […]
Pension Costs – mixed news for employers
Auto-enrolment The Government has announced that the timetable for increasing the employer contributions has been extended by 6 months. The phasing of contributions will now be as follows: In the […]