Union fights plans to close KCC care homes

KENT NEWS: Union leaders have launched a campaign to disrupt the planned closure of a number of council-run care homes for the elderly.

Cabinet members at County Hall agreed in June that centres across Kent should be shut down, demolished or sold to the private sector as part of an overhaul of the adult social care service.

But members of the Unison have come out in support of staff, elderly residents and their families by launching a campaign against the proposals, which are subject to a four-month consultation.

David Buss – chairman of the group’s adult services stewards committee – said: “KCC claims to be committed to protecting frontline services but is proposing these closures at the same time as it’s bidding to run finance, IT and related services for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.

“Councillors should get their priorities right. They were elected to provide quality services for the people in Kent, not to play at KCC plc.

“Unison is committed to joining with everyone who wants to defend these vital services to some of Kent’s most vulnerable people, who have given their lives to their communities and should now have the right to spend their remaining years in dignity in the home of their choice.”

The consultation on the proposals started on June 21 and will run until November 1, with a final decision likely to be made by January next year.

KCC says the changes will save  £2 million a year but insists it is also about providing better care and more choice for elderly residents.

The four care homes earmarked for closure are Ladesfield in Whitstable, Sampson Court in Deal, The Limes in Dartford, and Lawrence House in Folkestone.

Bowles Lodge in Hawkhurst, Cornfields in Dover, and Manorbrooke in Dartford, are all set to be demolished and replaced with ‘extra care’ social housing that would allow residents to live independently but with carers available 24 hours a day.

The shake-up also affects Wayfarers in Sandwich, which will be sold as a going concern, and three Swale care homes – Kiln Court in Faversham, Doubleday Lodge in Sittingbourne, and Blackburn Lodge in Sheerness – that the council will effectively sell off to the private sector and negotiate an agreement where it can retain rights to places.

However, Unison branch secretary David Lloyd said the latter three homes could also face closure if partners cannot be found.

He said the same applies for the Dorothy Lucy Centre in Maidstone, which is being retained for the time being.

Mr Lloyd said: “Quality care starts with quality staff and KCC sets the standards the rest of the sector should follow. That does not come cheap.

“But with it comes a well-motivated and loyal workforce, providing the continuity that is so vital to older people, in marked contrast to large parts of the private sector where high staff turnover and agency staffing are the norm.”

Unison has now launched a petition to fight the closures.

KCC cabinet member for Kent adult social services Cllr Graham Gibbens, said it was important unions, individuals and families give their views in the consultation process.

He said KCC was committed to providing residential care to those who need it and are entitled to the means-tested service.

He said: “People will ask: why make this proposal now? The answer is that it would be wrong to wait for the buildings to need more immediate, expensive work to be done.

“If we waited, residents might then need to be moved at short notice. By acting now, it is possible to give people more of a say in what happens next – and we can talk about options such as the £75m development in Kent that includes extra care.

 “I recognise this situation will be difficult for residents, families and members of staff. That is why it is important for people to get involved in the consultation – to say what they think and what is important to them.

“At the same time, the views of those who will need services in the future, and their families, are important and will be considered alongside those using the services now.

“This way, I can be sure that when a decision is made on the proposals, it is a properly informed decision.”