YOUR HOME. THEIR WORKPLACE.

In this episode Cecily welcomes Guy Woodliffe-Thomas, owner of Fitness Blueprint and personal trainer, to discuss how exercise can be made accessible to people with limited mobility and learning difficulties. Cecily shares her own experience of joining Guy's gym before her 70th birthday, explaining how working with personal trainers has helped improve her mobility and quality of life.

Guy shares his passion for making fitness accessible, enjoyable and manageable for everyone. He explains why starting small is key, with simple movements such as raising arms, bending and straightening legs, or exercising from a chair. They discuss practical ways to introduce activity at home, including resistance bands, bodyweight exercises and fun games that encourage movement without making exercise feel like a chore.

The conversation highlights the importance of collaboration between personal trainers, physiotherapists, families and care staff to ensure exercises are safe, appropriate and tailored to each individual. Guy also explores the mental and social benefits of physical activity, the opportunities to try adapted sports, and how care staff can encourage participation by sharing activities with the people they support.

Whether you're a family member, care professional or employer, this episode offers practical advice and reassurance that supporting physical activity doesn't require specialist fitness knowledge. The key is to start small, keep things simple and find enjoyable ways to move. Every movement counts when the goal is to improve wellbeing, confidence and quality of life.

To contact Guy:

Find him on his company website: https://www.fitnessblueprint.co.uk/

Facebook: FitnessBlueprint https://www.facebook.com/FitnessBlueprintUK

Instagram : fitnessblueprintuk https://www.instagram.com/fitnessblueprintuk/

Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her

newsletter, and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com.

Contact Cecily directly for a copy of her book.

Financial abuse is often hidden in plain sight and is far more likely to involve someone trusted than a stranger. In this episode, Cecily is joined by Heledd Wyn, Solicitor and Partner at Rothley Law, to explore how financial abuse affects vulnerable individuals and the important legal responsibilities that come with managing another person's finances.

Together, they discuss the growing use of Powers of Attorney, common misconceptions surrounding the role, and how well-intentioned family members can unknowingly cross legal boundaries. Heledd explains the warning signs of financial abuse, how concerns can be reported, and the roles of the Office of the Public Guardian, local authorities, banks, and the police in protecting vulnerable people.

The conversation also highlights the importance of planning ahead, having open conversations about future care and financial arrangements, and trusting your instincts if something doesn't feel right. Whether you're a family member, care professional, or someone supporting a vulnerable person, this episode offers valuable insight into recognising financial abuse and understanding how to safeguard those most at risk.

To contact Heledd: Find her on her company website: https://www.rothleylaw.com/

Email: [email protected]

Contact: 0330 236 6724 or 0749 876 3367

Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her newsletter, and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com. Contact Cecily directly for a copy of her book.

Welcome to this special mid-season update of Your Home. Their Workplace.

As we reach the halfway point of another season, I wanted to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you. This podcast is now in its third year, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who continues to listen, share episodes, and support the conversations we're having. I know many of you are balancing work, family life, caring responsibilities, and the demands of employing care staff at home, so thank you for taking the time to join me each month.

This season we've covered a wide range of important topics, including changes to employment law, emotional wellbeing for families, HR support, recruitment, and the practical realities of employing care staff in your home. My goal has always been to provide honest, practical advice that helps you feel more confident in your role as an employer. Thanks go also to each one of my guests for helping to achieve this.

Looking ahead, I'd love to hear from you. If there's a topic you'd like me to cover, a question you'd like answered, or a guest you think would bring valuable insight, please get in touch.

Our July episode will focus on the important topic of financial abuse. After that, the podcast will be taking a short summer break, so there won't be a new episode in August. We'll be back in September with more conversations and expert guests.

During the summer, I'll also be finalising my new website, where you'll be able to purchase my book, 'Employing Care Staff in Your Home' directly. I'm looking forward to sharing more information with you on the website!

Thank you again for being part of this community. If you've missed any episodes, the summer is the perfect opportunity to catch up, and I look forward to speaking with you again in September.

Warm wishes,

Cecily

Cecily and Karen reunited after more than a year to discuss how an independent HR professional can help implement recent HR and employment law changes affecting families and small organisations employing care staff. Karen explained the value of independent HR support, describing it as a more personalised and practical alternative to HR advice services.

The conversation covered the key essentials employers should have in place, including written contracts, right-to-work and DBS checks, accurate payroll and holiday records, and proper policies around areas such as health and safety, medication, GDPR, and social media. Karen stressed the importance of clear onboarding and good record-keeping from day one.

Karen also discussed how HR software can simplify managing shifts, payroll, holidays, and staff records while improving transparency and compliance. They also explored the launch of the new Fair Work Agency (FWA) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/fair-work-agency), which has strong powers to investigate issues such as holiday pay, sick pay, and minimum wage compliance.

A major theme throughout the episode was the importance of trust, boundaries, and communication when care takes place inside a private home. Karen highlighted the benefits of clear expectations, regular staff check-ins, detailed job descriptions, and ongoing training to help prevent problems before they escalate.

The episode concluded with a discussion about the continuous service requirement to claim unfair dismissal, which, from January 2027, will decrease from two years to six months. This may affect probationary periods. Karen explained why structured probation processes and early conversations are becoming increasingly important.

To contact Karen: Find her on her website: https://www.kmhrsolutions.co.uk/ Email: [email protected] Contact: 01280 733459

Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her newsletter, and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com. Contact Cecily directly for a copy of her book.

YOUR HOME, THEIR WORKPLACE - Season 3, Episode 4 with Dr. Tom Matthew talking about your wellbeing when managing care staff in your home

In this episode, Cecily is joined by Tom Matthew, a former NHS GP, to explore emotional wellbeing and the challenges faced by families who become employers of care staff at home.

They discuss the pressures of balancing caregiving with leadership, as well as managing various 'departments' such as occupational therapy, HR department, payroll, and more .Dr Matthew explains how emotional intelligence — particularly self-awareness and self-regulation — can improve communication and decision-making. Tom shares practical tools for managing stress, staying calm in difficult situations, and creating space before reacting.

The conversation also highlights the importance of empathy, clear boundaries that are seen as positive, and aligning the family's personal and professional values to build healthy working relationships. Tom introduces frameworks such as Transactional Analysis and the Drama Triangle, offering insight into more effective, respectful communication.

A valuable episode for anyone navigating caregiving, leadership, or emotionally demanding environments along with the difficult task of managing employees in the home.

To Contact Tom,

Find him on his website https://mbewellness.com/ or

Email [email protected] Contact 07301574706 or

Linkedin www.linkedin.com//in/dr-matthew-4361b5b2

Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast

at cecilylalloo.com

Contact Cecily direct for a copy of her book.

This March episode is being published earlier than normal because of some significant employment law changes. We encourage you, if you've not done so already, to talk to your HR provider to ensure that policies, procedures and practical management is in place. Managing people well is so important so that employment costs don't spiral.

In this episode, Cecily is joined by specialist employment solicitor and mediator Marc Jones to discuss the major employment law changes coming into force in 2026 and 2027 under the Employment Rights Act.

Marc explains how these reforms will affect employers, particularly in the care sector, and outlines key updates including day-one rights to statutory sick pay, changes to paternity and parental leave eligibility, also new protections around sexual harassment and whistleblowing, and the creation of the Fair Work Agency to strengthen workplace enforcement. The conversation also covers expanded flexible working rights, new bereavement leave provisions, and the reduction of the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from two years to six months. Marc highlights the importance of preparing early by reviewing employment contracts, updating workplace policies, and ensuring managers understand the upcoming changes.

Where Marc refers to 'business' this includes employers who employ care staff in their own homes. Click on this link below to listen to Marc's previous chat with Cecily where he talked about the employment contract.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1dFRQgS1sRhSCsU2EUdnCL?si=F4b1naaDTVWOo48sqXn6Xw

This is also available on Apple Podcasts and other major platforms.

To Contact Marc,

Find him on Marjon Law Website https://www.marjonlaw.co.uk/ or

Email [email protected] or Contact 0333 5333 0606

Contact Cecily, buy her book "Employing Care Staff in Your Home", subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast

at cecilylalloo.com

Contact Cecily direct for a copy of her book.

Sarah Clayton founded Simple Stuff Works to provide practical equipment and training that supports postural care and prevents avoidable complications for people with limited mobility.

In this episode, she shares how her background in education and research led her to build a role that didn't previously exist. We explore how gravity affects body shape, comfort, and pressure risk — and why positioning must always be personalised.

Sarah discusses the importance of collaboration between families, therapists, and care teams, using objective measures to guide decisions. She highlights the need for early intervention, regular reviews, and clear communication to manage both postural and pressure care effectively.

The key message: simple, well-informed positioning strategies — delivered early and collaboratively — can significantly improve comfort, safety, and quality of life.

In the chat with Cecily, Sarah mentioned a referral tool which she says "is also a fantastic resource for documenting a person's postural care provision - there are often multiple agencies involved which can quickly become overwhelming." Here are the links:

Tool: https://changingourlives.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Postural-Care-Overview-

MASTER.pdf

Website: https://changingourlives.org/our-work/health-inequalities/

To Contact Sarah,

Find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-clayton-simplestuffworks/?

originalSubdomain=uk

Or her website https://www.simplestuffworks.com/

Contact Cecily, buy her book, subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast

at cecilylalloo.com.

In this episode, Cecily is joined by Dani, a specialist moving and handling practitioner, for

an in-depth conversation on what moving and handling really involves — far beyond basic

transfers.

They explore the importance of comprehensive moving and handling assessments, why

this work must be fully integrated into multidisciplinary team (MDT) care, and how

collaboration between OTs, physios, carers, and specialists is essential for safety and

dignity.

The discussion dives into real-world challenges such as planning holidays for people with

complex needs, including air travel, specialist equipment, and emergency evacuation

plans. Dani shares practical insights into staff training, competency assessments, and why

consistent education across all shifts is critical.

A key part of the conversation focuses on adult intimacy and sex support in care settings

— why avoiding the topic creates risk, how clear intimacy support plans protect both

clients and carers, and the need for open, professional communication around boundaries,

consent, and cultural sensitivities.

The episode highlights the value of proper qualifications, honest scope-of-practice

conversations, and tailored training plans to ensure safe, respectful, and holistic care.

To Contact Dani :

Visit her email [email protected] or find her on LinkedIn

http://linkedin.com/in/daniele-paige

Contact Cecily, buy her book, subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast

at cecilylalloo.com.

In this episode S2 E9 Cecily ends 2025 and looks forward to 2026. She gives a brief recap of the episodes over the past 18 months, invites you to catch up on any you've missed, and offers you a copy of her book, Employing Care Staff in Your Home.

Cecily wishes you the best health and wellbeing in 2026, joy and sunshine in your life - these things that money can't buy.

Keep in touch with Cecily at cecilylalloo.com.

In this episode, Cecily speaks with Debbie Holder, an occupational health expert with over 30 years of experience. They break down what occupational health is, how it differs from occupational therapy, and why it's essential for anyone employing care staff at home. Debbie explains how Occupational Health supports both employers and employees, especially when health issues, sickness absence, or performance changes arise.

In this episode of YOUR HOME. THEIR WORKPLACE learn about

• How occupational health supports situations like long-term sickness, repeated absence, stress, safety concerns, and changes in performance
• How Occupational Health assesses the progression of health conditions and recommends realistic adjustments to keep someone working
• How Occupational Health works alongside GPs and can highlight when treatment may need review
• How Occupational Health distinguishes between medical fitness issues and capability issues
• What information makes a strong referral — including employer observations, existing adjustments, sickness records, fit notes, and the physical/mental demands of the role

Occupational health offers reassurance, practical guidance, and fair assessment to ensure safe, appropriate support for both employer and employee.

Listen in for: practical guidance, real -life examples, and clear explanations that help employers confidently navigate occupational health decisions.

To Contact Debbie :

Visit her website www.ohsltd.co.uk or reach her at 07742 245450

Contact Cecily, buy her book, subscribe to her newsletter and listen to her podcast at cecilylalloo.com.