October 1st 2004 saw the introduction of new legislation that sets out the minimum procedures that every employer must have in place to manage discipline, dismissal and grievance issues. Each employer is obliged under law to ensure that every employee is made aware of these procedures.

If you are a service user supported by the Rowan Organisation, you should have already received detailed information concerning this (if you have not, please contact your local Rowan Independent Living Adviser).

On 1st May 2004, amendments to the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 come into force. These amendments require all employers (without exception) in the UK to make basic document checks on every person they intend to employ.

They also require that the employer makes a copy of original documents (from a prescribed set of Lists) belonging to the employee so that they can prove they have undertaken the relevant checks.

As part of our commitment to ensuring that information is accessible to everyone, we’ve just enabled a facility on our web site that could be of benefit to people who have reading difficulties.

‘Browsealoud’ is a website speech enabling service provided by a company called TextHELP Systems Ltd., which makes web content accessible to anyone with reading difficulties. It is designed to be simple for Users, requiring only a short download of the free program.

The Rowan Organisation is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the contract to manage the William Molson Day Centre in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. On April 1st 2003, existing staff will transfer to the Rowan Organisation. The Centre will be based upon the same ethos and principles as the Day Services at Atherstone and Fordsfield. Stuart Farmery is the Centre Coordinator and Keith Pearson is the Administrator. Further information will appear in the Spring Edition of our Newsletter.

Please see the Contact Us page for e-mail details.

We're pleased to announce that having recently been awarded the contract to provide support for the Direct Payments Scheme in Thurrock, the service itself became operational on March 17th 2003. Mike Poppy has been appointed as full time Senior Independent Living Advisor. A further position will be advertised shortly.

Please see the Contact Us page for e-mail details.