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• Discipline and Grievance Procedures to Change
• Minimum Wage Reminder
• Increase to Holiday Entitlement Next Year
• Rowan's New Website!
• Blind Art Forum
• Disability Sport in Warwickshire
• Changes to Rowan's Payroll Service
• Carmarthenshire Direct Payments Support Group
• Help With Energy and Heating Costs
• Staffordshire Training News
• Naidex Exhibition
• Membership

Discipline and Grievance Procedures to Change

Since 2004 there has been a statutory procedure for handling discipline and grievance matters at work.

However, from 6th April 2009 this procedure will be abolished and replaced with a new framework that will give employers and employees greater flexibility in how they resolve with problems in the workplace.

Details are still being finalised but the new legislation is expected to be passed by Parliament in the next couple of months.

Under the new simpler guidelines, employers will have to ensure that they act fairly and reasonably when dealing with problems. ACAS will release the new Code of Practice together with a Guide for employers early next year.

If you employ personal assistants or carers it is important that you are aware of the new procedures and you will need to make the information available to your PAs as part of their contract of employment.

More detailed information will be available in the next edition of this Newsletter, and service users will also receive a revised set of disciplinary and grievance procedures to update their PAs' employment contracts.

Details of the new code are available from the Acas website, www.acas.org.uk or by calling their helpline on 08457 474747. We will also have more information in the next issue of Directions.

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Minimum Wage Reminder

Don't forget that the National Minimum Wage went up on 1st of October 2008!

If you employ personal assistants or carers you must ensure that you are paying them at least the new minimum rate of pay:

• £5.73 for workers aged 22 and over 
• £4.77 for workers aged 18 - 21
• £3.53 For workers aged £16 - 18
• For service users who provide accommodation, the offset rate is £4.46 per day (£31.22 per week).

I you require further information please call the National Minimum Wage helpline on 0845 6000 678 or visit the Direct Gov website: www.direct.gov.uk/nmw .

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Increase to Holiday Entitlement Next Year

From the 1st of April 2009, the statutory minimum holiday entitlement for employees in England, Wales and Scotland will increase from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks.

This is pro rata for people who work part time. As now, Bank holidays and public holidays can be included in the statutory minimum holiday entitlement.

Further details will appear in the next issue of Directions and all service users will receive detailed information in writing during March 2009.

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Rowan's New WebsiteW3C WAI_AA logo

The Rowan Organisation's website (www.therowan.org) has recently been moved to a new hosting service and different software is now being used to maintain and develop it.

One of the main benefits of making this change has been to significantly improve all aspects of accessibility, thereby making it easier for visually impaired individuals or who might make use of screen reader software. In addition the new website has passed all of the Worldwide Accessibility standards at Priority Levels 1 and 2, giving it a WAI-AA standard.

Our intention is to sustain these standards throughout the websites' ongoing maintenance and future development.

Another major benefit is that the new software used will allow us to develop new features more easily, and at a lower cost than the previous system allowed us to. Potential developments for the future include the addition of local contacts directories, local PA registers/vacancies and the ability to download documents and forms.

We hope you like the ‘new look' website and would welcome any feedback you may have, either by using the Feedback Form on the website or by sending an email to the Information Service (info@therowan.org).

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Blind Art Forum

BlindArt is a charitable organisation that encourages blind and visually impaired people to become involved in the visual arts. Both sighted and visually impaired artists are promoted through competitions, exhibitions, fairs and shows.

Artists are encouraged to take a new approach to their artwork by focusing on the needs of a visually impaired audience. They are challenged to produce work that appeals to all of the senses, not just sight.

BlindArt has recently launched an online forum where people can read and chat about issues relating to art, visual impairment and disability. The forum aims to raise public awareness of inclusive events and the issues surrounding inclusive arts.

The forum contains sections for artists to promote their work and to discuss issues or ideas about sensory art. There are also areas dedicated to events for people with sensory impairments, resources and opportunities within the arts.

The forum aims to help artists promote their work, provide organisations a space to advertise events, and to establish a resource for visually impaired people to create and access art. It is hoped that the forum will also become a social network for people to share views and engage in debate with others.

To access the forum, visit http://forum.blindart.net .

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Disability Sport in Warwickshire

Nuneaton and Bedworth Leisure Trust has recently appointed a new Disability Inclusion Officer to support disabled people to access sports facilities in the borough.

The new officer, Mandy Stevens, is working with sports clubs in the area to make them more inclusive and to identify more opportunities for disabled people to take part. She is also working with local gyms to provide fully accessible gym and fitness sessions.

In order to give people an idea of what is available, taster sessions are on offer for people of all ages and abilities. Mandy can also meet with groups and signpost people to a range of activities.

There are several clubs in the area for disabled people, including the Bedworth Disabled Swimming Club and the Warwickshire Warriors Disability Football Club.

For more information on what is available and how to take part, you can contact Mandy on 024 7640 0583 or email mandy.stevens@nbleisuretrust.co.uk .

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Changes to Rowan's Payroll Service

We recently introduced changes to the way our Payroll Service operates by providing our payroll staff with direct dial numbers. This means that when you are phoning in your hours, or if you have a payroll related query, you can now contact your payroll adviser directly!

We hope that doing this will enable us to provide you with a higher quality service.

The direct dial numbers for each payroll adviser are as follows:

Nancy House: 0845 606 1589

Kathy Kelly: 0845 606 1590

Chris Catanheira: 0845 606 1591

Diane Hendricks: 0845 606 1592

Gary Stringer: 0845 606 1593

Jo Clarke: 0845 606 1594

Matthew Baillie: 0845 606 1595

Rowena Arnold: 0845 606 1956

Sue Kuchta: 0845 606 1957

Eileen McElhone: 0845 606 1598

Chris Marshall: 0845 606 1612

Margaret Lees: 0845 606 1613

If you are unsure who your payroll adviser is, you can contact the main head office number and someone will be able to advise.

Calls are charged at local rate.

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Carmarthenshire Direct Payments Support Group

A new support forum has been created for Direct Payments users in Carmarthenshire.

Roger Howells, whose mother receives Direct Payments, has created an online forum for service users to chat, share their experiences and stories and get support from other Direct Payments users.

The forum has four main sections in which members can chat about Direct Payments, activities they are involved in, getting out and about and resources they have found useful.

It is hoped that the forum will become a useful resource for Direct Payments users and also a social place where service users can talk to each other.

To use the forum, visit http://z4.invisionfree.com/CarmsDPGroup/ .

Registration on the site is free and the forum is easy to use.

You may have seen a recent article saying that the forum has closed. At the time of Directions going to print, the forum is still up and running. Please do visit it and get involved!!

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Help With Energy and Heating Costs

With rising energy prices, many of us are looking for ways to save money on our fuel bills. Some customers may benefit from the social tariffs offered by energy providers.

Social Tariffs are designed to help people with the cost of their bills. The range of support on offer differs between companies, but can include discounted rates and free insulation. The cost of the social tariff should equal that of the supplier's cheapest deal.

Each energy supplier has their own criteria for who qualifies for a social tariff, but most are aimed to support people on low incomes who are disabled, elderly or have young children and those on certain benefits.

To find out if you qualify for a lower tariff for your gas and electric, you can contact your energy supplier.

People who qualify may also be eligible for support in the form of a Cold Weather Payment or Warm Front Grant.

Cold Weather Payments are available to help with the cost of fuel bills during very cold weather. For more information on this, please contact your local Job Centre.

The Warm Front Grant is a government funded scheme to help people with the cost of insulation and heating improvements in the home. For further information on the Warm Front Grant you can visit www.warmfront.co.uk or call 0800 316 2805.

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Staffordshire Training News

Staffordshire Social Care Workforce Partnership (SSCWP) is hosting free employment and management training for Direct Payments users on recruiting and employing staff. To find out more, call SSCWP on 01782 442909 or email dani@clemorton.co.uk .

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Naidex 2009

The Naidex exhibition will be held at the NEC in Birmingham from 28th to 30th of April 2009.

Naidex is the biggest showcase of new products designed to aid independent living. Visitors can try out and compare thousands of new products including wheelchairs, scooters, stair lifts, access equipment, daily living aids and much more.

Exhibitors include Assist UK, Disabled Living Foundation, The Stroke Association, the RNID and many more. The exhibition also includes demonstrations and seminars on various topics including assistance dogs and lifestyle presentations.

Entry is free and there is a Mobility Loan Point for access.

If you want to attend the event, you can register beforehand to save you time on the day.

For more information or to register, visit www.naidex.co.uk .

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Membership of the Rowan Organisation

The Rowan Organisation is a registered charity and not for profit organisation. It is a user-led organisation and the majority of Board members are disabled people, as are a number of our operational staff.

Membership of the Rowan Organisation is open to all service users and it's free! Ordinary members receive a summary of the quarterly Board meetings, are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM and also have the chance to become a Board Member themselves.

Board membership offers an exciting opportunity to travel and meet up with others. Service user members', who are elected on to the Board, influence the management and direction of the organisation. Board membership offers a mix of business and social elements and all reasonable travel, accommodation and other expenses are paid for by the Rowan Organisation.

If you are interested in applying for ordinary membership, with the chance of becoming a Board member, please contact the Rowan Organisation at Head Office on 0800 783 1755 or by emailing info@therowan.org .
The following further information may help you to decide to become a member:

Mission Statement

"The Rowan Organisation exists to provide disabled people with access to information and support in order that they can make informed choices and be in control of their lives".

Vision Statement

"A society that is fully inclusive in which the barriers, whether environmental, attitudinal or institutional, that prevent disabled people from having equality of opportunity have been removed."
In providing services we advocate the following principles:

Services offered should support disabled people to have increased choices, independence and control of their lives.

Support provided should be based on and directed by the aims, objectives and needs identified by each disabled person.

The same range of opportunities and facilities should be available to disabled people as are available to others.

Disabled people should not be excluded, segregated or discriminated against because of their impairment.

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