Care home staff in South Gloucestershire 'sickened' over council U-turn

8:50am Thursday 29th July 2010

Exclusive By Alexandra Womack

CARE home staff across South Gloucestershire have been left ‘sickened’ by a council U-turn on its plans to build two new state-of-the-art residential homes.

The authority is due to close eight of its care homes and had planned to build two multi-million pound replacement homes in Yate and Kingswood.

However, the council is now considering handing responsibility over to a private contractor and closing some of the homes earlier than expected.

The Gazette has been contacted by numerous care assistants who claim the needs of elderly people are being sacrificed in a bid to save South Gloucestershire Council money.

One member of staff, who asked not to be named for fear of her job, said: "We have been told the council will not be re-employing staff and that the new homes will be private.

"You have to pay the full amount in private homes and many of the 270 elderly people in the eight homes have no money so where are they going to go?

Another care assistant, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: "Initially we were told we would be able to re-apply for our jobs, now we will have no jobs.

"Staff have been totally shafted. The standard of care we provide is a whole lot better than private care homes."

The homes being closed by the council are Alexandra Way in Thornbury, Frome House, Wapley Court and Woodleaze in Yate, Charlton in Filton, Kerr House in Staple Hill and Newton House in Cadbury Heath.

A council spokesman said: "Initially it was the council’s intention to build and run the new residential care homes in Yate and Kingswood, however the current economic climate requires the council, like all others, to carefully consider what is affordable and offers best value for money.

"Accordingly we have had to take a second look at our earlier plan and examine whether an alternative option would offer better value for money.

"Careful consideration is being given to all options, including appointing a commercial partner to build and run the homes, to ensure that they represent the best value for money without losing sight of our continuing determination to create two top quality homes for the benefit of local residents in Yate and Kingswood.

"In practice, local residents will not notice a difference as the alternative option does not change what is provided but rather how it is provided."

He said the authority was working through the precise implications for staff should the council decide on a private care operator.

"It should be noted that the Care Quality Commission requires certain standards from providers, including staffing level, these apply to all providers of care homes," he added.

Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb said: "What is very worrying is the uncertainty now facing residents, relatives and staff.

"Some older people could find themselves being moved not once but twice and that is just unacceptable."