The Employment Rights Act 2025 will give workers the right to request a guaranteed hours contract - and the Government has now launched a consultation on how this will work in practice. For homecare providers, the implications could be significant.
What we will cover:
Hannah Bollard from Anthony Collins Solicitors will take you through the detail of the consultation, explaining the key proposals and the choices the Government is making — including what counts as a "low-hours" worker, what are “regular hours”, the proposed reference periods and what protections and flexibilities providers may retain. She will also cover the consultation's proposals on reasonable notice of shifts and cancellations, including what minimum notice periods could look like and what happens — and what workers may be owed — when shifts are cancelled at short notice.
Michelle Dumont from the Homecare Association Policy, Practice and Innovation team will set out why this matters for homecare and will share the Homecare Association's emerging position and how members can feed into our consultation response.
Finally, Ben Wicks, Chief Executive and Registered Manager of Butterfly Care will share his first-hand experience of implementing changes — the operational challenges, the workforce benefits, and the lessons learned along the way.
Whether you are already thinking about your approach or are unsure where to start, this webinar will give you the clarity and confidence to act.
Meet your speakers:
Ben Wicks - Chief Executive & Registered Manager - Butterfly Care
Ben Wicks is the Chief Executive and Registered Manager of Butterfly Care. Butterfly was founded by his parents in 2008 who were manager/owners until their retirements in 2017. They currently provide 2,000 hours of care per week across Bath, North East Somerset and Wiltshire.
Michelle Dumont - Policy Specialist - Homecare Association
Michelle is part of the Homecare Association policy team, leading on the homecare workforce. Michelle has more than 12 years' experience working on policy issues relating to employment, care, disability and ageing. Her role covers supporting member enquiries via our helpline; promoting best practice and representation and influencing, meeting with officials and partner organisations.
Hannah Bollard - Senior Associate - Anthony Collins Solicitors
Hannah is a senior associate in the employment and pensions team at Anthony Collins, with over eight years’ post-qualification experience and a strong focus on the health and social care sector, where she has specialised for the past seven years.
She leads on advising a wide range of care providers, including home care agencies, care homes, supported living services, charities, and not-for-profit organisations, on all aspects of employment law. Hannah is proud to support sector-leading organisations such as Dimensions, Bluebird Care, and Helping Hands, providing practical, strategic advice on everything from day-to-day employee relations to complex workforce projects.