New Care Home Scheme Blasted By Union Bosses

Trade union bosses have hit out at plans to privatise home care services in Rochdale as the council is looking to employ a private company to provide long-term help to the elderly and infirm. But Unison fears that could put some of the most vulnerable members of the community at risk.

Under the proposals the council would introduce a ‘re-ablement’ scheme whereby people who require assistance, after suffering an injury or illness, are put on an intensive six-week course of rehabilitation, which local authority staff would administer. But the contract for long-term home care would be transferred to a private company.

Helen Harrison, Rochdale Unison branch secretary, said: “We are totally against the out-sourcing of council services, especially in this case, because we are dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in the borough. Our concern is that people who continue to require home support after the initial six weeks will have no continuity of care, they will be transferred from one carer to another.”

Staff will be offered the chance to transfer to the new company on the same terms and conditions. But Unison is concerned the changes will affect morale and standards.

“It is a vital and skilled industry but it is poorly paid and while the council doesn’t pay great wages it does pay better than the private sector,” added Mrs Harrison. “Our members in the home support service have had to put up with a lot of change over the past few years. They have compromised and accepted new terms, but this is unacceptable.”

Councillor Allen Brett, leader of the Labour group, said: “The Labour party agreed initially to changes to the home care service, but now it seems the Lib Dems want to get rid of it altogether. I have asked questions on this issue but so far I have received no answers.”

But Councillor Dale Mulgrew, cabinet spokesman for social care, insists the plans would help raise standards of care. He said: “At present more than two thirds of social care in Rochdale is provided by the private sector and many of these organisations receive higher ratings than council providers.

“There is a robust and definitive code of conduct in place which requires the quality of care provided by the private sector to be maintained. Instead of social care being reactive, re-ablement will enable users to lead an independent life with dignity without relying on care.”