Links
Here you can find links to other organisations and information you may find useful when considering personal care, healthcare or franchise issues.
Business Advice
Business Advice Online
Information for small businesses.
Business Link
On-line information for small business owners with guidance on key business issues such as finance, employment law, tax and sector regulation.
Department of Trade and Industry
Working with businesses, employees and consumers to drive up UK productivity and competitiveness.
Department of Trade and Industry – Unfair Competition
Information on unfair competition in business.
Information Commissioner’s Office
The Information Commissioner is an independent official appointed by the Crown to oversee the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Care and Regulation
Better Caring
Directory of care homes.
Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales
Commission responsible for regulation and inspection of social care in Wales.
Care Directions
Online guide to the rights and care of older people.
Care Quality Commission
Commission responsible for regulation and inspection of social care in England.
Community Care Magazine
Community Care is a leading social care information provider
Elderly Accommodation Counsel
Online options for older people making decisions about where to live and the care they need.
General Social Care Council
The General Social Care Council is the social care workforce regulator. It registers social care workers and regulates their conduct and training.
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS)
Commission responsible for regulation and inspection of social care in Scotland.
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
SCIE’s aim is to improve the experience of people who use social care by developing and promoting knowledge about good practice in the sector. It produces free resources, supporting those working in social care and empowering service users.
Counselling Services
Counselling Directory
A directory to help locate counsellors or psychotherapists near you.
Disability Issues
Dementia Information Service for Carers (DISC)
DISC offers advice and information to carers of older people who have dementia including finding services that can help, thinking about and finding a care home, and continuing to care after admission.
UK Government’s Disability Policy Division
Information on disability legislation.
Disclosure
Criminal Records Disclosure
Organisation to help employers make safer recruitment decisions.
Disclosure Scotland
Disclosure Scotland is a service designed to enhance public safety by providing potential employers and the voluntary sector with criminal history information on individuals applying for posts. It issues certificates – known as “Disclosures” – which give details of an individual’s criminal convictions or state that they have none.
Disclosure Service (England and Wales)
This provides a regulated ‘one-stop’ service for England and Wales offering access to records held by the police, together with those held by the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills.
Nacro
Crime reduction charity that promotes practical solutions to reducing crime.
Protection of Vulnerable Adults Information
The latest versions of guidance, including the ‘Practical Guide’ for care homes and homecare agencies and the form organisations complete to request that a worker, or former worker, be added to the POVA list.
Scottish Criminal Records Office
Organisation to assist employers in making safer recruitment decisions.
Education and Training
Care Point
General information and advice on regional activities.
Department for Education and Skills
The Department for Education and Skills homepage.
Learn Direct
Learndirect offers online courses in IT, business and management and more. Search their database of over 600000 courses.
Learning Skill Councils (LSC)
The LSC aims to make England better skilled and more competitive.
Northern Ireland Social Care Council
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council help to raise standards of training and practice in the social care workforce
Topss England (now Sector Skills Council for Care and Development)
Social care workforce strategy body Topss England became Skills for Care from 1 April. Still led by employer networks and other care interests, it will now be concerned specifically with adult social care, while children’s services workforce strategy will be taken up by the new Children’s Workforce Development Council.
Employment and Recruitment
ACAS
Organisation designed to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
DWP is responsible for the Government’s welfare reform agenda.
Department of Trade and Industry – Employment Relations
Information on employment regulations.
Job Centre Plus
Help and advice on job hunting, making a claim and extra support.
Working in the UK
Clear information about the various routes open to foreign nationals who want to come and work in the UK.
Government, Legislation and Policy
Department of Health (England)
Health and social care policy, guidance and publications.
Directgov
The place to turn to for the latest and widest range of UK Government and public service information.
Office of Public Sector Information
Includes HMSO and provides information on legislation.
Health
National Health Service
Information on all issues related to the NHS.
Human Rights
Department for Constitutional Affairs – Human Rights
Information about how the Department for Constitutional Affairs aims to help build a culture of rights and responsibilities across the UK.
Racial Equality
Commission for Racial Equality
The Commission for Racial Equality is a publicly funded, non-governmental body set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality.
Regional Government
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly was established as part of the Belfast Agreement is the prime source of authority for all devolved responsibilities and has full legislative and executive authority.
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Executive is the devolved government for Scotland. It is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport.
Welsh Assembly
The National Assembly for Wales consists of 60 Assembly Members elected throughout Wales. It is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales and holds the Welsh Government to account.
Resources for Service Users and Informal Carers
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers offers information, advice and support to the quarter of a million unpaid informal carers, including 13,000 young carers below the age of 18.