Oban disability and day care workers fear for their jobs
Emails from Argyll and Bute Council’s Learning Disability and Day Service bosses have left staff ‘gobsmacked’ and uncertain of their future.
The first email issued about the outcome of the service’s redesign was sent out on Friday January 28 and followed by a second email five days later, The Oban Times was told.
The redesign would affect Oban’s Lorn Resource Centre, the day centre in Lochgilphead and the Greenwood Centre in Campbeltown, as well as two others including one in Dunoon.
‘The first email left staff feeling gobsmacked and uncertain about their jobs,’ said the worker, who asked not to be named. ‘The second email lacked even more clarity just making that uncertainty worse. Although it was saying there would be no redundancies and that people would be deployed, people are worried there won’t be enough jobs to go round.’
Meanwhile Argyll and Bute’s care at home service continues to be taken with the utmost seriousness, health chiefs have said after concerns were raised over staff levels.
Kintyre and the Islands Liberal Democrat councillor Robin Currie, Argyll and Bute Council’s leader, voiced his concern at a recent meeting. He had recently attended a meeting with Scotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney.
However, Fiona Davies, interim chief officer of the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP), assured him that the service remained the subject of strong focus.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the HSCP’s integration joint board (IJB) on Wednesday January 26.
Ms Davies said: ‘The care at home service has probably been the service we have focused on most closely all through this period.
‘It is variable across Argyll and Bute. There are areas facing acute challenge and others faring much better.
‘In relation to meeting our assessed need, it is something we have been watching very closely and take with the utmost seriousness.
‘The need was not serious in our judgement during this period and any gap was not best met by stopping another service in the authority.
‘I was also in the meeting with the deputy first minister and we have engaged with the local resilience partnership.
‘Without going into too much detail, a lot of activity undertaken by the care at home staff cannot easily be replicated.’
Caroline Cherry, the HSCP’s head of adult services, added: ‘There will be concerns in relation to care at home.
It is long-standing issues in terms of recruitment and retention, in terms of contracted hours and pay.
‘There has been very close contact with all providers. In some areas there is very close consideration of how we manage that need on a daily basis.
‘We have been fairly successful in recruiting to a mobile care at home team, which is going to help with service users and families.
‘There is work to do to retain and deliver this service so that it is sustainable across Argyll and Bute. We are doing everything we can.’
A spokesman for the Argyll and Bute HSCP said: ‘As part of Argyll and Bute HSCP’s Transformation Programme, the HSCP commenced the review of Learning Disability Day Services in March 2021 in partnership with Human Resources and Trade Union/ staffside representatives.
‘The purpose of this review is to ensure there is equity and consistency in staffing across each of our locations and ensure the future sustainability of our internal service provision.
‘Throughout the process, all staff members affected have been provided with regular communications and newsletter updates.
‘All affected staff members have been invited to attend one-to-one meetings with senior management to discuss any personal issues or concerns they may have. Argyll and Bute HSCP’s focus continues to be retaining employment for employees affected by the review.’
Councillor Currie later told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he was satisfied with the response he received.
‘Throughout the process, all staff members affected have been provided with regular communications and newsletter updates.’