Employment changes 1 April 2019

What comes into force this month
NHS Employers 1 April 2019

• A summary of some of the changes taking place from 1 April that affect employers and the NHS workforce.
• New pay progression system under NHS T&Cs
• Increase to clinical excellence awards investment ratio
• Pension contribution rates
• WDES roll-out
• National wage increases
• Statutory payment increases
• Tribunal payments for breach of employment obligations
• Compensation limit increases
• Pension taxation – lifetime allowance
• Apprentice levy transfer

New UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS)

New UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) 

UK Visas and Immigration 2 November

• Health and care workers making an application for settlement, citizenship or to extend their stay in the UK for study or work will in the future use the new UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service where all applications will be made online and the process completed at a UKVCAS centre. 
• The roll-out of this new service will be of interest to health and care professionals working in the independent healthcare sector and in the NHS making extension, settlement or citizenship applications. 
• For details of changes see New service launched for people seeking leave to remain or to settle permanently in the UK

EU Settlement Scheme open early for health and social care workers

EU Settlement Scheme

Home Office

• The Home Office has announced plans to test the EU Settlement Scheme with all health and social care workers from 26 November 2018. This means EU citizens working in the health or care sector will have early access to the scheme, before it is rolled out more widely in 2019. 
• Employers will be working with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office to produce and disseminate communication materials that will help you best support your colleagues who need to register for the scheme.
• From CCG Bulletin 11 October 2018

Vicarious liability can extend to acts of independent contractors

Vicarious liability can extend to acts of independent contractors
HR Law Live, Mills & Reeve 31 July 2018

• The Court of Appeal has confirmed that Barclays Bank was vicariously liable for sexual assaults committed by a self-employed GP it had engaged to undertake medical examinations of employees and prospective employees. The Court has dismissed the Bank’s argument that as a matter of principle it should not be liable for the acts of an independent contractor

Could IR35 be the NHS’s Achilles heel?

Could IR35 be the NHS’s Achilles heel?
Digital Health 11 July 2018

• Guest columnist Graham Smith considers why the real Achilles heel to digital reform across the NHS could be the tax law IR35.
• "At a time when the health service’s reliance on IT contractors is paramount, it cannot afford to alienate them."