Concerns over plans to put agency carers in sheltered housing

ELDERLY residents with care needs who are living in sheltered accommodation have been told of plans to replace full-time staff employed by the council with agency staff.

Enfield Council is consulting residents on designing personalised care packages and replacing full- ime carers with agency staff at Dean House, in Archers Drive, Enfield Highway, Newstead House, in Maldon Road, Edmonton, and Len Warren House, in St James Road, Edmonton.

Residents were told four weeks ago that a review had been carried out and the council thought that services did not have to be delivered by the local authority.

Deborah Fowcett, 53, of Albany Road, Enfield Wash, whose father David Keen, 86, lives in Dean House, criticised the council’s move.

“They are taking away the extra care services and replacing these with agency care,” she said. “This is going to affect my father and other residents, as staff are going to be there for shorter period of times and quality of care is often lacking.

“My parents gave up a three-bedroom property for the care they would receive there and still being able to live independently. My dad has had serious trouble sleeping since he heard about the changes and a lot of residents are concerned.

“Surely they deserve to have a little calm and happiness at their age?”

The council says the move will mean that the 26 sheltered housing tenants with care needs are soon to have a greater degree of control over how those needs are met.

Don McGowan, cabinet member for adult services, care and health, said: “Traditionally, care needs have been met by an in-house domiciliary care service, but now tenants are being invited to contribute to the design of their own care.

“Every person is assessed so that an appropriate care plan can be made. The new arrangements align care packages in the sheltered blocks to those of people living in their own homes with similar needs, increasing equality across Enfield.

“The new arrangement encourages people to think about the services they need with their own personal budget.”

Conservative councillor and shadow member for adult social services Denise Headley said: “While we understand the concerns of the community with regards to continuity of care, we have to understand that these services are given to people for free and the council has to provide value for money.

“You have to be realistic about the cost of care in this country and it simply cannot be sustained at current levels, which is a huge cost to the public purse.”