Health and social care

Weightmans has an impressive reputation in the health and social care sectors.

Our HR Rely team has vast experience in NHS related employment issues. We act for national bodies, NHS Trusts, and primary care providers, including GP and dental practices. We understand the regulatory framework within which the NHS operates and the level of scrutiny that NHS employers face.

Our advisors are well-positioned to advise on issues engaging the Agenda for Change, governance, and the Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS) framework and have a detailed of understanding of the concerns of NHS employers.

We also have an established track record in supporting private providers of health and social care, across the whole spectrum of regulated services.

As well as all aspects of discrimination and employment law, as part of a full-service law firm, our employment advisors can tap into a wealth of related expertise including clinical negligence and medical defence, commercial contracts and many more.

Our team

Our HR Rely team includes employment lawyers with extensive sector-specific experience, providing a deep understanding of specific challenges facing NHS employers and other providers of health and social care; from the absolute priority of maintaining excellent standards of patient care, through to the operational challenges of workforce supply struggling to keep pace with ever-increasing demand.

Our service

We deliver a high-quality personal service to your managers and HR professionals, ensuring we give practically focused, strategic advice. This can include advice on managing your public communications and potential adverse publicity

Your Client Relationship Owner (CRO) will ensure total continuity of service. They will work to understand your key strategic aims, and tailor our approach to meet your needs. Your CRO will focus on supporting your business to achieve your objectives within costs agreed with you.

Our HR Rely Team is flexible, available and supports our clients to address issues confidently and quickly. Our service is demand-led to meet significant peaks and troughs of activity.

Helpline

We operate a dedicated HR helpline service to answer any day-to-day queries that arise. We find that the majority of issues fall with the scope of the retainer and that our early advice helps to mitigate against bigger issues arising down the line.

Employment tribunals

Whilst we work with you closely to avoid employment tribunal claims, they will inevitably, occasionally arise. You can be assured that, at the outset of each case, we will review the claim and advise on the legal issues, the relevant evidence that needs to be collated, as well as identifying the witnesses. As early as is reasonably practicable, we provide an initial assessment of the merits and potential quantum of compensation as well as giving advice about other relevant factors such as potential reputational damage, policy, and strategic implications.

Recent work in health and social care

The range of our work with health and social care clients covers all aspects of employment relations and employment law advice. Recent examples include:

• Design and review of employment contracts, policies, and procedures.
• Helping clients in the CQC regulated care home sector to prepare for mandatory COVID vaccination including employee consultation, changing terms and conditions, and carrying out fair dismissals where required.
• Investigation support to health and social care providers including grievances, disciplinary issues and bullying and harassment.
• Advising providers of residential care on issues relating to ‘sleep-in’ time and the National Minimum Wage.

Our three-tier menu offering enables you to choose the right support package that works for best for your business. Your CRO will be able to help guide you through the process.