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The Latest Bulletin

Developing an anti-racism strategy

Developing an anti-racism strategy

Racial injustices and ingrained inequalities are apparent in society and evident in UK workplaces. To address the root causes of racial inequality (racism), employers need to maintain a zero-tolerance approach to workplace discrimination – as is required by the Equality Act 2010 – and commit to planned action. This guide outlines six principles (which build upon our initial call for an approach based on four key principles) to help organisations develop an action strategy to help end systemic racism and address racial inequalities at work. Race discrimination is illegal in the UK as per the Equality Act 2010. As such, employers must enact their policies if allegations of racial discrimination occur, while individuals are within their rights to raise a grievance should they…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 21, 2020
The Trussell Trust – Research and advocacy

The Trussell Trust – Research and advocacy

To end poverty and hunger in the UK, we need a robust welfare safety net and secure incomes so people can afford at least basic essentials like food and heating. Our policy asks and campaigning are rooted in evidence from food banks in our network across the UK, and the people they support. We use our evidence to campaign for change for people on the lowest incomes – we do this by sharing our evidence with policymakers and the public to ensure they understand fully the state of hunger and poverty in the UK. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
July 21, 2020
Government tells sector ‘not to prioritise’ Liberty Protection Safeguards preparations

Government tells sector ‘not to prioritise’ Liberty Protection Safeguards preparations

The government has told councils and other sector bodies “not to prioritise” implementing the replacement for the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards with the previously slated October 2020 go-live date now an impossibility. The government is yet to say when the Liberty Protection Safeguards’ implementation may be delayed until but said it would provide “further updates as soon as possible”. The government said last year that its “intention” was for the LPS to come into force in October of this year. But to make that happen, it would have to consult on a code of practice and regulations detailing how the system would work in detail. Such a consultation would take at least 12 weeks, after which the government would have…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 21, 2020
Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Use holding emails

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Use holding emails

Email communication is a very strong feature of modern working life for a high proportion of people. It can be a very convenient and helpful form of communication, but it can also be highly problematic in a number of ways. One such way is the common (but thankfully not universal) expectation that responses will be more or less instant. This can lead to two sets of difficulties. One is that the person receiving an email may feel under pressure to reply there and then (when perhaps a more considered response would be wiser) and another is that the person sending the email can feel they are being ignored if they do not receive a prompt response. One way of addressing…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 7, 2020
Music for dementia

Music for dementia

It is anticipated that there will be one million people living with dementia in the UK by 2021. Music is a powerful connector and has the ability to bring people together in the here and now. It can enliven, stimulate and enable people living with dementia to express themselves creatively through musical engagement. Research has shown and lived experiences demonstrate that music has the ability to help reduce the often-distressing symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, apathy and anxiety. Music supports people living with dementia to communicate beyond words, helping them to connect with others. It supports emotional health and wellbeing, particularly at a time when emotions can be overwhelming or difficult to process or manage. It has a valuable…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 7, 2020
Recognition Matters – A knowledge exchange and impact project

Recognition Matters – A knowledge exchange and impact project

Respectful, inclusive processes that involve families have value in themselves. Family members need to feel ‘recognised’, in order to be able to participate fully in key decisions. When children are really vulnerable to harm social workers have to work even harder to create partnership with families where risk is present. For infants, babies, and very young children, as well as older children who are non-verbal or require constant care as they grow up, we need to find ways to work with risk that do not necessarily involve family separations. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
July 7, 2020
Tackling race hate incidents in the workplace

Tackling race hate incidents in the workplace

Race hate incidents are acts of violence or hostility against people because of their race and are illegal in criminal law. If these occur in the workplace, they are also unlawful race discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and can amount to gross misconduct for example, where one employee threatens another employee with physical violence because of the colour of their skin. Employees expect to be treated fairly and considerately in the workplace. When it comes to issues of race discrimination and race hate, fair treatment is a moral and legal duty and employers have a responsibility to investigate and respond to any issue they become aware of, as well as take all reasonable measures to protect employees from harassment…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 7, 2020