Care for 94 people to be switched as Bath council contract axed
More than 90 people will be given new home carers this spring after a contract for support to elderly people wanting to stay in their own homes was terminated.
Bath and North East Somerset Council announced this week that its contract with provider Homecare B&NES, based in Midsomer Norton, would end on March 31.
The council said it had decided to transfer the home care of 94 people, to other providers, although unions say these have not been identified.
The authority said it wanted those using the service to receive continuity of care but added a review of service users would take place before they were transferred to the new provider.
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The announcement has been criticised by public sector union Unison, whose B&NES branch secretary Jane Carter, said there were concerns for those using the service and the care workers.
She said: “Unison is very concerned that the contract between B&NES council and Homecare B&NES will be coming to an end at the end of March. This will affect not only the clients who receive care in their homes but also our dedicated members who work hard to provide a high quality home care service to these clients. Over the past year Unison has been communicating with both B&NES Council and Homecare B&NES to ascertain who the new provider will be. Unfortunately the council has failed to secure a new provider and we believe that the best option would be for the council to directly employ these home care staff, therefore ensuring continuity of care for vulnerable clients and job security for dedicated staff.”
It is not known how many workers may be affected by the announcement.
A spokesman for the council said Homecare B&NES was responsible for its own staff.
He said: “The council has explored with other home care providers an arrangement that would enable Homecare B&NES staff to transfer over to them. However, it has not been possible to agree such an arrangement. The council has been able to confirm that other agencies already operating in B&NES are able to provide the services required.”
There has been no comment thus far from Homecare B&NES.
Sirona Care and Health is now arranging the transfer of care for B&NES and anyone concerned should ring 01225 396229.
3 Comments
by MoeXXX
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 11:27PM
“another downward spiral, and no-one with any authority will take a blind bit of notice until the inevitable scandal is exposed on Points West.
Anyone would think we'd never been here before.”
by Wilts_Driver
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 9:02PM
“My family have always found the staff of Homecare to be very caring and efficient, and prepared to go the extra mile when looking after clients. It is a shame the some of the most vulnerable in our society will once again be subject to coping with change as part of a money saving exercise.”
by Viscount_V
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 8:42PM
“"It is not known how many workers may be affected by the announcement.
A spokesman for the council said Homecare B&NES was responsible for its own staff."
40+ people will lose their jobs through no failing of the agency and throwing the contract at a cheaper option. The council spokesman should be ashamed he so flippantly disregards 40 people, some with families to feed in defense of what's clearly a council cut.”