Cambuslang Community Carers forced to pull the plug due to lack of funding
THIRTY workers are facing the dole while service users are looking at an uncertain future after Cambuslang Community Carers and Rutherglen were forced to announce their closure last week.
Board members took the painful decision to inform workers that they would be unemployed after March 11, when the council’s funding for the organisation runs out.
With no plans currently in place for future funding, the board said they were left with little choice and decided not to ask staff to work for nothing in the hope that more funding might become available.
Crunch talks were held yesterday (Tuesday) between the CCCR board and social work officer but so far the situation remains unclear.
Workers said they were “devastated” by the news, while service users have hit out at the council for not doing enough to safeguard the group’s future.
The board have launched a blistering attack on the council, accusing social work chiefs of backing them into a corner and leaving them no room for manoeuvre.
CCCR chair John Edgar described the last seven days as “one of the worst weeks of my life” and said staff had been reduced to tears when they had been told.
He said the council have refused to grant them a Service Level Agreement, which would have allowed them to apply for funding from other sources.
He revealed that the organisation had produced an action plan that would have saved nearly £30,000 over the next 12 months but accused the council of reneging on an agreement to pay for six voluntary redundancies.
He said: “Basically, they have told us that it is up to us to fund any redundancies.
“Six people stepped forward, not because they want to leave, but because they want to protect their fellow workers and the service users.
“The staff are all entitled to take holidays and they could have easily said they were going on holiday now rather than work up until March 11 but they have all agreed to work right up until the death.
“That’s a fantastic gesture. They want to make sure the clients are safe and I can only thank them for that.”
John also slammed the local councillors, saying he emailed all 12 in Rutherglen and Cambuslang, with only three getting back to him and none offering concrete support.
He said: “They should hang their heads in shame.”
Linda Johnstone, an outreach worker with CCCR, was close to tears when she told the Reformer: “This will have such a critical impact on the community. I see the service that people need and it’s just devastating for so many people. It’s just awful.”
Service users have also leapt to the defence of the group.
Kathleen Gallagher relies on the group to help her with her nine-year-old daughter Ailis.
She said: “The community carers really go that extra mile for you. I am really angry with what has happened. My kids are used to the same cycle of people coming in. It’s not acceptable.”
Jackie and Jim, parents of little Jordan Mount (10), have also expressed their disgust. They use the service for just three hours every four weeks, but according to Jackie even that is a lifeline.
She said: “It allows us to do something together even just for a couple of hours. I know it’s not much time but there are other, more deserving cases.
“This has been a lifeline for us. I don’t think anyone could guarantee the same level of service.”
A review by Social Work in 2009 described the service provided by CCCR as “invaluable.” adding that there was no “comparable project” in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “The meeting this morning (Tuesday) was positive and discussions are continuing with the group.”
Local MSP James Kelly called on a resolution to be found. He said “As the constituency MSP, I am well aware of the good work carried out by the Cambuslang Community Carers and Rutherglen.
“It’s clearly quite a worrying situation if the future of the organisation is under threat. I would encourage all parties involved to work together to ensure that the service remains beyond March 11.”
