Petition calls for halt to care staff changes

SHELTERED housing residents and their relatives are up in arms over plans to replace full-time staff with agency workers.
Last month, Enfield Council informed residents of proposals to introduce personalised care packages as well as bringing in agency workers in place of full-time carers, at Dean House, in Archers Drive, Enfield Highway, Newstead House, in Maldon Road, Edmonton, and Len Warren House, in St James Road, Edmonton.

The plans are not subject to a consultation process and last week relatives and friends started a petition calling on the council to call a halt because of the impact they say the changes will have on the physical and mental health of residents.

Stan Kelby, 68, a friend of Francis Rhodes, 84, a resident of Len Warren House, told the Advertiser: “The experiences of people I know with agency staff have been very negative. People here know the carers and they always go the extra mile for the residents. With agency staff there will be different carers all the time, and we all know that their attitudes to work will be different.

“Francis has lost a lot of weight over the past few weeks and many other residents are suffering because of the stress this is causing them. It is really affecting everyone’s feelings of security and confidence.”

Vince Cox, whose mother Elsie, 97, lives in Newstead House, said: “The whole personalisation agenda will fragment care. Surely it would be cheaper and easier for everyone if people get their meals all at the same time, as opposed to everyone individually paying for every little thing the carers need to do, such as picking up papers in the morning?”

Don McGowan, the council’s cabinet member for adult services, care and health, said: “Personalisation is a national initiative transforming adult social care and choice. As part of a review of our services, we received positive feedback, but the service is not the same across all tenancies and it is financially unsustainable compared to similar services.

“We are in the process of setting individual budgets, according to need, to ensure that we get the support levels right. It is at the moment impossible to say how much saving will be achieved. Residents are currently being assessed to determine their weekly care packages. The changes will come into effect in August.”