YOUR HOME. THEIR WORKPLACE - Season 3, Episode 5 with Karen Mitchell on working with an independent HR professional.

Cecily and Karen reunited after more than a year to discuss how an independent HR professional can help implement recent HR and employment law changes affecting families and small organisations employing care staff. Karen explained the value of independent HR support, describing it as a more personalised and practical alternative to HR advice services. The conversation covered the key essentials employers should have in place, including written contracts, right-to-work and DBS checks, accurate payroll and holiday records, and proper policies around areas such as health and safety, medication, GDPR, and social media. Karen stressed the importance of clear onboarding and good record-keeping from day one. Karen also discussed how HR software can simplify managing shifts, payroll, holidays, and staff records while improving transparency and compliance. They also explored the launch of the new Fair Work Agency (FWA) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/fair-work-agency), which has strong powers to investigate issues such as holiday pay, sick pay, and minimum wage compliance. A major theme throughout the episode was the importance of trust, boundaries, and communication when care takes place inside a private home. Karen highlighted the benefits of clear expectations, regular staff check-ins, detailed job descriptions, and ongoing training to help prevent problems before they escalate. The episode concluded with a discussion about the continuous service requirement to claim unfair dismissal, which, from January 2027, will decrease from two years to six months. This may affect probationary periods. Karen explained why structured probation processes and early conversations are becoming increasingly important. To contact Karen: Find her on her website: https://www.kmhrsolutions.co.uk/ Email: [email protected] Contact: 01280 733459 Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her newsletter, and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com. Contact Cecily directly for a copy of her book.