Jobs fears at Sheffield’s care centres

UP to 80 jobs are at risk at two of Sheffield’s seven old people’s care centres after Town Hall bosses said they should be closed due to insufficient demand.

The Ravenscroft respite centre, in Handsworth, and the Foxwood dementia centre, at Manor Top, are both set for the chop but trade union Unison disputed the council’s claim, saying there is a waiting list for places at the homes.

Sheffield Council’s cabinet is expected to approve a two-month consultation period on the proposals when it meets on Wednesday.

Eddie Sherwood, the council’s director of adults’ social services, said the plans were not about savings but about addressing people’s needs.

He said: “This change is supported by the views of older people in Sheffield and their increasing reluctance to use existing, more traditional forms of care.”

Mr Sherwood, who issued the cabinet report, also revealed the council’s intention to pull out of a Private Finance Initiative scheme to build two new centres, saying “they no longer met the needs of older people”.

Carol Ring, convenor for trade union Unison, said: “Ravenscroft has 30 to 35 staff and there are around 40 at Foxwood, who will be at risk.

“Making this decision would not make sense – there are waiting lists for places at the homes and there will be increasing numbers of older people in the future requiring care.”

The two threatened care homes have been singled out for a number of reasons, the council said.

Ravenscroft is said to have low occupancy, require “modernisation” and “substantial” repairs. Foxwood is listed for decommission because the age of the building makes it hard to maintain and it is difficult to heat.

Mr Sherwood said staff from the sites could be redeployed rather than made redundant.

The remaining five “resource centres” – Hazelhurst in Jordanthorpe, Sevenfields in Wisewood, Hurlfield View at Gleadless Common, Bole Hill View in Crookes and Norbury at Firth Park – are all set to stay but the council have said they will “keep a good eye on usage”.

The centres were previously residential and were altered in 2001 to provide day and respite care. Now there is only one remaining residential home in the city – Newton Grange Residential unit in Stocksbridge, which has just 16 beds.