Employability services
National
North East
Local Employment Support
Different local authorities across the North East offer support to help the people in their area get into work and lead fulfilling working lives. Each area will offer different support but it may include things like information, advice and guidance, coaching and mentoring and learning and skills opportunities. The buttons below will take you to each local authorities’ Employment Hub – however the local authority will only provide support to people that reside within their area. For example, if your local authority is Newcastle City Council, you would click on ‘Newcastle WorkandThrive.’
Tees Valley
Employment Rights in the UK
When you are working, you are entitled to the same employee rights as everyone else in the UK. When you get a job, you should also get a job contract or a job agreement. The terms and conditions of your work will be in your contract or agreement (this includes things like the number of hours you will work and how much you are paid). Make sure you read this carefully, with an interpreter, if necessary, before you sign.
In the UK there are three main types of employment status, these are:
- being self-employed
- being a worker
- or being an employee.
Employment laws are different for workers and employees, both are entitled to:
- a minimum wage of £10.42 an hour if you are over 23.
- entitlement to a minimum of a 20-minute break if you work for more than 6 hours a day.
- protection from illegal discrimination.
- to work a maximum of 48 hours on average in a week or to opt out of this right if you choose.
- protection against your employer taking money from your wages.
- being treated the same as someone who works full time if you work part-time.
- protection if you report wrongdoing in a workplace.
Workers get some specific employment rights but have more flexibility over when, how much, and where they work. Employees get full employment rights and may also get sick pay, maternity pay, paternity pay, shared parental pay, and adoption pay.
It is illegal in the UK to discriminate against anyone applying for a job or in the workplace because of gender, race, religion, being married or in a civil partnership, disability, age, sexual orientation or being pregnant.
Gov UK has produced guidance on employment rights that can be accessed here.
ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
ACAS offer free impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice to both employers and employees. They work with millions of people every year striving to improve workplace relationships and they have lots of helpful resources on their website, which can be accessed via the button below.
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
For those working or looking to work in the NHS it is helpful to know about the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which can be accessed by clicking the button below. The company independently investigates complaints about UK government departments, other public organisations and the NHS in England.
References and DBS
References
To work in the UK you need a reference. There are typically two types of reference-
- The best type of reference is from your previous employer (or from a Voluntary Sector Organisation.) It is very hard to get a job without an employer reference from a UK company.
- Another type of reference is a character reference from someone British. You could ask your sponsor, or another trusted person who knows you.
DBS
What is a DBS check?
Employers can check the criminal record of someone applying for a role. This is known as getting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. There are certain UK jobs which you cannot do if you have no DBS check. You can find examples of jobs which require a DBS check.
How to get a DBS?
It can be difficult to get a DBS check because:
- You need to show UK addresses for the last 5 years. (You can read the government guidelines here. If don’t have 5 years of UK addresses, follow these guidelines.)
- A DBS check can also be difficult to get because you need an organisation to submit your form, you can’t submit the form directly by yourself.
- You will also need to provide ID documents to confirm your identity
Here is some advice-
- Remember that not all jobs require you to have a DBS. Usually you will need a DBS check if you work or volunteer with vulnerable people..
- If you have questions you could make an appointment with Karen Watson or Matthew Brindley at Volunteer Centre Newcastle.
- Most Voluntary Sector Organisations will pay for you to get a DBS check so that you can volunteer with them.
- Every time you move to a new organisation (or a new employer) you need a new DBS.
- A DBS check expires after one year and must be renewed. The organisation where you are volunteering (or working) may invite you to sign up to the update service. This way the DBS does not expire.
For information on volunteering, click the button below