Last Updated on August 18, 2026

The National Care Forum (NCF) has launched a new employment practice programme to support not-for-profit care and support providers.

The Leading Better Employment Practice programme will support NCF members and other not-for-profit care and support providers in the following ways:

• Sharing and embedding of best employment practice.
• Helping members prepare for, comply with, and innovate in response to the Employment Rights Act (ERA).
• Supporting confident, values-led approaches to workers’ rights.
• Showcasing NCF members demonstrating leadership in employment practice.
• Strengthening the collection, use and dissemination of workforce data and evidence.
• Supporting learning and development across adult social care.
• Contributing to the delivery of the sector's workforce strategy.

Commenting on the new programme's launch, Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive Officer at NCF, said, 'We are delighted to launch Leading Better Employment Practice to support our members. Since Labour took power in 2024, NCF has undertaken a huge programme of work designed to influence the Government's workforce policy agenda. In the space of the last eight months, we have submitted seventeen consultation responses covering a wide range of issues, including learning and development, trade union rights, employment protections, flexible working, agency staff and the development of the Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care.

'This period has been one of the busiest we have seen in terms of employment rights reform and the Government’s "Make Work Pay" agenda, which is introducing a step change in employment law. These changes will directly affect how providers recruit, manage, reward and support their workforce, so it has been important to ensure the not-for-profit care and support sector's voice is properly represented while these policies are being developed.

'Over the past year we have taken part in task and finish groups shaping the approach to the Fair Pay Agreement, been part of the next stages of developing the Care Workforce Pathway and worked on how to support young people into adult social care both through T-Levels and the Youth Guarantee. Throughout this programme of work, our approach has been built around member insights and expertise which have allowed us to take real world examples and translate them into vital input for Government.

'As well as finding ways to be the best employers they can be, our members are also leading the way on use of data to make informed decisions on staff pay, terms and conditions. To further facilitate this, we are pleased that in the coming weeks we will launch the 2026 Social Care Reward Survey, our refreshed benchmarking survey which supports our members to compare pay, terms and conditions with their peers.'

Phil Orton, Deputy Chief Executive at Making Space, said, 'As Chair of NCF’s HR Community of Practice, I see every day how committed not-for-profit providers are to being great employers and working together, even in a tough financial climate, to do the right thing for our colleagues. It's great to see this proactive leadership from NCF through the Leading Better Employment Practice programme, helping not-for-profit care and support providers navigate the scale of change coming through the ERA and making sure the voice of our sector is properly reflected as policy develops. This kind of practical, member led support really matters when the landscape is moving so quickly.

'There are, of course, areas we are collectively working through. Changes to trade union rights and industrial relations will require open, constructive relationships built on trust and respect, with a real focus on engagement with colleagues at a local level. At the same time, our international workforce remains vital to the strength and diversity of our services, and we must continue to ensure colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported to thrive.'

Hannah Bollard, Senior Associate at Anthony Collins, said, 'Our support for NCF and the not-for-profit care sector continues to go from strength to strength through this important new initiative. The ERA represents one of the most significant programmes of employment law reform in recent years and will have far-reaching implications for care and support providers.

'We are proud to support NCF's Leading Better Employment Practice programme, drawing on our specialist knowledge of the sector to help members understand, prepare for and respond to the changes ahead. By providing practical guidance on the impact of the ERA on workforces, employment practices, HR teams and industrial relations, we hope to support providers in navigating change with confidence while continuing to deliver high-quality care and support.'

To find out more about NCF’s Leading Better Employment Practice programme and to register for any of NCF’s forthcoming events focused on employment law, visit its website.

In other news, Government has announced a major expansion of community mental health support across England, with up to 159 new NHS mental health centres.