Reliable, experienced cleaner required.
One full day per week for home in village close to Sherborne Dorset.
Top Rates Payable for the right candidiate
Please send your details to Charlotte at:
Office Cleaner Blandford | Servicemaster Wessex
Office Cleaner Required in Blandford Forum by Servicemaster Wessex
Start time 17.00 (5pm) for 2hrs & 15 mins per day 5 days per week.
£108.88 per week paid monthly + Benefits
To find out more and to apply please call, text or email:
07921 775999
Maintenance Team Members | King’s school Bruton
King’s School Bruton & Hazelgrove School Sparkford would like to hear from experienced maintenance/gerneral builders who would like to join their busy teams.
On offer is year round full time contracts, with and excellent salary with generous on call payments.
To find out more and to apply, please visit:
https://www.kingsbruton.com/about-us/vacancies or https://www.hazelgrove.co.uk/about/staff-vacancies
Or call HR on 01749 814316
Estates Maintenance Workers | Margaret Green
Margaret Green Animal Rescue are recruiting Estates Maintenance workers.
37.5 hours per week £9.50/£10.50 ph dependant on experience
Based at Church Knowle looking after 3 sites & 6 shops.
If you have a good level of skills in general maintenance such as carpentry, plumbing and basic electrics then we would like to hear from you.
For more details please contact the Estates manager: [email protected]
Why I’ve changed my stance on raising National Insurance | Simon Hoare MP
I’d guess that there are not many people in North Dorset who do not know at least one person, a friend or family member perhaps, who is not waiting currently for an operation, scan or some other medical intervention.
I know from my inbox that the waiting lists are growing, and that people are worried. When will they get help? When will their pain be eradicated etc? It is for that reason that the Government had to act to inject extra resource into the NHS to cope with the Covid-generated backlog. I was concerned that we were breaking a manifesto commitment not to increase National Insurance contributions. But it was written in a different, pre-pandemic age. An analogue document for a digital age. Covid has changed
so much. Those who know me know I am no ideological purist. Rather, I plant my flag as a confirmed and proud centre-ground pragmatist.
Following the decades old Tory tradition of finding practical solutions to problems; not hogtied to dogma or ‘little red books’. So, the new money will go to the NHS and hopefully that will help tackle the mountain range like waiting list problem.
‘Flush with money’
But, as a Tory I also know that injecting money into anything, let alone such a vast public service as the NHS, can never be the end in itself. Listening to health commentators it is clear that outputs and productivity go up when money is at its tightest as every ounce of health benefit is squeezed from every
pound. When an organisationis ‘flush with money’ it can often mean that financial rectitude and prudent management go out of the window at worst or take second place at best. We must therefore look to those who control the purse strings to ensure that the maximum benefit can be derived from this windfall cash injection. 150% of our entire GDP could go to health provision and it would still not be enough. Medical science is outpacing public financing. We must focus on productivity and outputs. It is in the patient’s interest to do so.
A skill shortage.
Doctors and nurses do not grow on trees. It is not just a question of the money but also having the
medical staff to deploy to use it. There is of course a moral dimension to skill-raiding from overseas, often depleting other countries of medical expertise. That said, and while there is a huge need for front line staff (let us not forget many of them are physically and mentally on their knees as a result of Covid),
we will need to ensure there is a timely flexible response from the Home Office regarding visas and
processing applications.
The Social Care timebomb
A big part of the NHS capacity crisis is the bedblocking that occurs when patients no longer need acute care but are not able to return home without an integrated care package. As a result, they cannot be
discharged. This often leads to thousands of beds nationally being used for non- medical care. That
is why we are trying to defuse the Social Care time-bomb before it detonates.
Health and Social Care are two sides of the same coin. A major contributor to the problems of social care provision has been the disproportionate reductions in Government-provided funding to local government. It is local councils who know their communities and its needs better than Whitehall. I shall
continue my advocacy for Local Government funding within Westminster to make that case.
Future of care
Two final points if I may? First, we now need to sculpt what we want adult social care to do and look like for the next 30-40 years. The model needs a radical overhaul to reflect the change in demographic demand.
Second, we will at our peril forget that ‘social care’ is not ‘elderly care’. There is a huge and growing demand among children and young people for social care and they cannot be overlooked.
by Simon Hoare MP
Simon Hoare on the murder of David Amess
I welcomed the shock, horror and outrage that greeted the vicious murder of my colleague David Amess. The response of the public highlighted that, thank God, such events are very few and far between in our national life. Their very rarity ensures that they stand out. We have not become accustomed to them. The senselessness of his death acts as a prompt for us to all to reaffirm our expectations of decency, courtesy and respect. It allows us to remind ourselves that these are the golden threads that bind us together – a virtually universally shared set of values all based on a broadly similar moral and ethical compass. His dying will have some meaning if it acts as a spur to all us to reaffirm, loudly and proudly, those shared values.
Like many, if not most of my Parliamentary colleagues from across the Parties, I have received many kind messages of support, thanks and human kindness from across the political spectrum of North Dorset and indeed further afield. Let me share an example –
“it is so incomprehensible when a tragedy like this happens. We also wanted Simon and his colleagues to know how grateful we are that there are people willing to represent the people of our country and fight to keep our democracy. We send you all our love and prayers. God Bless.”
And another sent from my friend and Labour opponent at the last two elections Pat Osborne –
“Shocking sickening events today Simon. I’m truly sorry for the loss of your colleague. I hope you’re OK. Please stay safe.”
Strangely, (or perhaps not) when those with actively different political views take the time and care to send a message it doubly warms the heart. All those messages cheered and provided succour in a bleak time. I doubt that anyone who did write will have known how much all of us have appreciated those messages of simple, unvarnished humanity. Thank you.
“We can get it wrong, fail and annoy.”
Simon Hoare
As I write we do not know the answer as to why David Amess was killed. We do know, however, that it shines a light on lessons needed to be learned by us all. We politicos need less populist dogma driving a wedge between people, and more respectful debate designed to bind together and heal. The country needs to learn that we politicians are not saints. We can get it wrong, fail and annoy. When we do it must be called out and appropriate sanctions taken. However, the vile tsunami of social media that pours continually from keyboards must stop. The anonymity of social media has made it anti-social media. I know I’ve typed a few things in the past that should have been phrased differently. Have been less dogmatic. Let’s remind ourselves we can disagree without being disagreeable. Many of us use metaphor, irony, sarcasm and robust language knowing we do not mean the words literally. We presume that our readers, listeners, followers will understand this. However, we make an error when we presume that everyone else will ‘get it’. The disturbed mind, the troubled soul, often needs little to break it and impel it to acts of ill and evil.
“The author hoped I would die in anguish with my children surrounding me helpless and then burn in hell’s fire”
Simon Hoare
I remember receiving, shortly after my first election in 2015 an absolutely abhorrent email. The author hoped I would die in anguish with my children surrounding me helpless and then burn in hell’s fire (you will get the drift). I contacted the sender to ask these questions in relation to his message: would he have said it face to face; would he have said it a telephone call; would he have put it in a letter? I asked him to reread what he had sent me. He was appalled. He cried. He apologised. We then had a perfectly civil conversation. There is too much ‘type and press send’. An email address, Twitter handle or social media account does not create a cloak of anonymity. It does not absolve one of responsibility for one’s words. It harms. It hurts. It invokes anxiety and fear. It creates an imbalance of entitlement – I can say what I want (says the writer) but woe betide if my MP/Councillor/official fights fire with fire.
So, as we come to terms with the murder of a decent public servant, husband and father killed solely because he was a public servant, let us try to find a way as a country to cherish and use our freedom of thought and speech but in ways that don’t lead to hate, violence and potential loss of life. I remain of the view that we can. I only hope that we do.
Simon Hoare
Calling all writers! Home-Start asks families to share their stories
Local families charity Home-Start South East Dorset has launched a new writing competition to encourage local families to share their stories. Some excellent prizes are up for grabs including book vouchers, hampers and days out.
Shortlisted entries will be judged by Bestselling Children’s Author Sarah Lean who wrote A Dog Called Homeless. Sarah commented: “I am very happy to be invited to be part of this competition. I loved writing stories as a child, dictating them to my mother who typed them up on an old borrowed typewriter. It was magic to see what I had inside me turn into neatly formed words on paper. Storytime at school, home and the library was one of my most favourite activities. We probably all need a little more restful and comforting time of listening together and sharing a book.”
Sarah’s comments are echoed by various bodies of research that highlight the benefits of reading to children and the unfortunate reality that thousands of children in Britain do not even have a book of their own. Organisations like The National Literacy Trust and Bookstart are focused on improving access to books and encouraging parents to read to their children regularly right from birth, to encourage connection and a love of reading.
Local business Hodson Writing Services is supporting the competition. Founder Gayleen Hodson believes that writing and creativity are very important at a young age. “Writing and creativity help children to express emotions,” says Gayleen. “A child’s creative activity can help teachers and parents to learn more about what the child may be thinking or feeling at the time. Older children can write down things that are on their minds. Creative outlets can help to therefore boost mental health and express emotions. Creative activities can also aid diversity and improve intellectual skills, as well as increase inspiration and confidence.”
The competition has several categories open to enter. Each age group has its own writing topic, from favourite outdoor activities to parenting highs and lows and more. Poems and short stories are welcome.
“I am very excited to read all the competition entries, especially those from parents,” Sarah continued. “We share our life stories with each other all the time in conversation although often are reluctant to commit our words to paper. So many of us set aside the things we love doing and I encourage anyone else who has put aside the desire to write to take this one step. A love of reading and writing is what we want our children to experience, for many reasons, and they learn this passion from what they see from those around them.”
Entries must be received by midnight on 8th November 2021. For further details and full competition rules please visit https://homestartsoutheastdorset.org.uk/shortstory/.
Caroline Pope, Community & Corporate Engagement Manager at Home-Start South East Dorset said: “We are delighted that both Sarah Lean and Hodson Writing Services have agreed to be involved in this project. We can’t wait to read all the entries as they come in. I am sure we will be blown away by the creativity of the children and adults in our local area.”
Home-Start South East Dorset provides nurturing support and guidance for families living across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, as well as the Purbecks and areas as far north as Cranborne and as far west as Wareham. Since 1995 they have helped over 3,500 local families and supported over 10,000 children through a network of over 600 amazing volunteers.
It costs Home-Start South East Dorset approximately £33.25 per week to support a family with specialist one-to-one volunteer support. To make a donation to Home-Start, or to find out more about accessing their help, please visit https://homestartsoutheastdorset.org.uk/.
Rural Business invests in new defibrillator
Rose Engineering, a Dorset based Engineering and Construction Company has invested in a new defibrillator as part of their commitment to the local community.
“With our rural office location we felt it was necessary to invest in the lifesaving equipment that will also be available to the local community.” Managing Director, Tom Rose said.
“The UK ambulance service attempts over 30,000 resuscitations each year; 72% of cardiac arrests occurring in the home and 15% in the workplace. We hope the new defibrillator will give some peace of mind to our local area.
“The defibrillator is sited at their main offices in Bagber, Sturminster Newton. It can be used without training by anyone, with easy to follow instructions and voice commands. We hope it will never need to be used but we would like to let our local community know that it is there should they need it.”
Easy steps to take to protect your assets against Care Home fees.
Protection of assets against care home fees remains a hot topic and a pressing concern for many. Blanchards Bailey Partner and Head of Private Client, Jerome Dodge, gives his views on the recent government announcements.
“Proposals to put a lifetime cap on the amount an individual has to pay towards their long- term care are surely a step forward on the basis that state provision of social care has been underfunded for many years. However, plans to impose an £86,000 cap on care costs are more complex than they first appear and there is a question mark as to how much extra funding is actually being provided. It should be noted that the cap does not apply to “hotel costs” e.g. accommodation, food etc. Where does this leave the two vehicles commonly used to provide protection against care home fees?
Wills made by couples can usually ringfence half of the assets from care home fees It is perfectly possible for Wills to be made by a couple in which the assets of the first person to die are placed into trust to allow the survivor
a guaranteed right to occupy the main residence, receive income from other assets and ensure the capital value of the assets in trust cannot be taken into account by the Local Authority should the survivor need long term care. Due to the cap, it would seem that this protection will be beneficial in fewer cases, but it is important to factor in the ‘hotel costs’ in assessing whether such protection is still of practical benefit for any particular couple. It is also worth bearing in mind only care costs incurred after October 2023 benefit from the cap.
Health and Care (Welfare) Lasting Powers of Attorney (H&W LPA)
If you do not have a H&W LPA, decisions regarding social care (e.g. whether you are looked after at home or move into a care home) are made by the state and not your family, should you lack the mental capacity to make that decision yourself. These documents have become very important in recent years and the proposed changes to the funding of social care make them even more vital. A H&W LPA gives those you love and trust, the legal authority to insist on the care you are entitled to if at the time you lack the required mental capacity. I think it will also become crucial that as people reach the cap in their personal contribution towards funding, that the decision as to whether care is provided by the state, (which is usually of a lower standard than the private sector provides), or continues being provided privately, is made by those you have appointed, rather than the Local Authority. A H&W LPA not only puts the decision making in the hands of the right people, but allows you to document your wishes in this regard and gives authority for them to be carried out.
Jerome Dodge would advise all clients to consider the following Estate Planning and Asset Protection Checklist:
Wills
- Has your will been reviewed in light of Inheritance Tax changes and particularly the introduction of the Residence Nil Rate Band?
- If you are a couple, have you considered trusts to protect assets from care home fees? Lasting Powers of Attorney (‘LPAs’)
- Do you have Health and Care (Welfare) LPAs?
- Does your Enduring Power of Attorney/Financial Affairs LPA include the ability for the attorneys to instruct
a broker/Independent financial advisor on adiscretionary management basis? If not, this is something you should discuss with us.
Inheritance Tax planning
• Do you understand your Inheritance Tax position, and have you recently reviewed the options available to you to mitigate tax?
• Have you received advice on your private pension and ensured it fits in with your estate/Inheritance Tax plan?
We are always very happy to have an initial discussion with current or prospective clients free of charge to see how best we can help. To speak with Jerome or any member of the Wills and Estate Planning team please contact 01258 459361.
Blanchards Bailey
