58 jobs at risk in cost-cutting care homes closure plan

TWO council-run care homes could be closed and 58 jobs put at risk in a £1 million cost-cutting exercise.

North Lincolnshire Council has announced a consultation on the future of respite care buildings at Scotter House and The Lilacs, both in Scunthorpe.

The plans, if approved, would see respite and intermediate care services transfer from The Lilacs to De Lacy House care home in Winterton. Alternative ways would be found to deliver the respite services offered at Scotter House.

Council bosses confirmed existing services would not be affected by the transfer.

The move could save more than £1 million per year but leave dozens of jobs at risk.

An eight-week consultation process will be undertaken, with a final decision on whether the homes will close expected in May.

As reported, the authority needs to save £15 million in the next financial year to cover a drop in its central Government funding.

North Lincolnshire Council’s director of adult social services, Mike Briggs, said: “With the cuts the council is facing, we have had to look at the best way of handling those cuts and we could go one of two ways.

“One way is to keep running services as we do now. That would mean we would still have to find a considerable amount of savings and have to start cutting services to people.

“We have looked at the other option, which is to protect the services for vulnerable people, those with disabilities and older people.

“The main work we do with the health service won’t be affected.

“The difference would be that we would be doing it at De Lacy House, rather than The Lilacs, but the facilities are better at De Lacy House.”

Mr Briggs said there had been a decline in demand for beds at Scotter House and The Lilacs, which were both built about 40 years ago. He said more and more people were living without the need for residential care, while changes in the care sector meant a greater choice for those who need it.

And he said the De Lacy House facilities were in a better condition than those at The Lilacs.

Mr Briggs said: “At The Lilacs, we run intermediate care jointly with the NHS.

“We will transfer those 12 beds to De Lacy House, which will have the same number of beds.”

Currently, there are 19 permanent employees at Scotter House and 39 at The Lilacs. Mr Briggs admitted those jobs would be at risk, but said the council would try to provide alternative positions.

He said: “Part of the consultation will be looking at the effect on staff. Hopefully, through redeployment and retraining, we can find other jobs for people affected by this as much as possible.”

The eight-week consultation will involve staff at the homes, unions, service users and their families and partner organisations.

The council’s cabinet member for adult services, Councillor Pauline Carlile, made the decision to press ahead with the consultation.

She said: “Carrying on as we are isn’t an option because of the Government’s cuts of 26 per cent over the next four years.

“We must now look at how we can provide the service at a cheaper cost.

“No decisions have yet been taken and a consultation process will take place.”