Cardiff council has today approved plans to overhaul adult home care services, despite concerns raised by a scrutiny committee.
The executive approved proposals to reduce the number of service providers for domiciliary care from 56 to 11 this afternoon in a bid to improve the service.
The proposals – which will include a six month transition period and affect 60% of care users in Cardiff – have caused outrage among care users and workers.
Members of the community and adult services scrutiny committee submitted a letter in the eleventh hour to the executive outlining a number of concerns and calling on the executive to delay their decision.
Scrutiny raise objection to the proposals
The letter from scrutiny recognised the council's need to improve home care services for adults and applauded the efforts of the tendering process but also saw a number of key concerns including how care users were contacted.
The letter, signed by chair of the scrutiny committee Ralph Cook, also criticised the lack of provision for those affected to address anyone other than a council officer prior to the decision being made today.
The letter noted a general dissatisfaction among councillors on the scrutiny committee with the proposals and called on the executive to defer the decision. The letter said:
"If the recommendations are accepted, they will result in drastic changes in the market of domiciliary care in Cardiff which will disempower care workers and reduce their power with regard to negotiating terms and conditions for new employers.
"There will be inevitable, negative consequence on the continuity of care experience by service users, which will be deeply upsetting for service users, their families and carers.
"There has been a lack of consultation with care workers, which is deeply regrettable."
Members of the scrutiny committee also said the letters to service users were not clear enough and were not sent out early enough to care users. The letter read:
"This is unacceptable, particularly given the needs of the client groups that are affected by these proposals. Members recommend that in future, draft letters be read by someone who is able to offer a fresh pair of eyes and ensure that the letter is easy to understand.
"Members further recommend that, in cases such as this, cycle couriers be used to ensure that letters reach recipients on the day intended. Members recognise the cost implication of this but believe the cost is worth paying to ensure vulnerable clients receive information in a timely manner."
The scrutiny committee is inviting service providers, users, families and carers to attend their meeting on 10 March 2011 to give feedback on the transition process
Council executive member says overhaul will be worth it
Executive member for social care, health and wellbeing, John Dixon, spoke at the executive meeting, arguing that the council's tendering process was adequate and users could expect a better service in the long term.
Dixon said:
"We think we will end up with a better service than we started with.
"Block contracts mean providers will have assurance of a level of work.
"This was not an exercise on saving on costs at the expense of lower quality. I know these changes will cause anxiety for those affected. If people can bear with us through the change, I hope people will see we have a better and more stable service as a result."
In answer to the criticisms from scrutiny committee, Dixon added:
"We do not believe it will disempower care workers because employment will be more stable and the outcome for those who are contracted will improve.
"On lack of consultation with care workers – the people who are third party employees – it would be very difficult and I would need to take advice on whether it is appropriate to consult employees of the third party organisations."
Speaking for the independent group, Adrian Robson said he welcomed the idea of workers clocking in and out using an electronic monitoring system, but shared the concerns of the scrutiny committee regarding a discontinuity in service. Dixon replied:
"I would say that with 52 out of the 56 being ad hoc spot contracts, there's a change of company on a fairly regular basis as part of the operation of adult services."
Speaking after the meeting care users and workers in the public gallery challenged the executive's decision.
Julie Edwards, 51, director of Dolphin care who were unsuccessful in their bid said: "People don't move around – agencies don't change. The standard is going to drop so much." A meeting with those from unsuccessful service providers will take place at 2pm on Wednesday next week at the Ely Methodist Church.
Emma Juliet Lawton, 48, of Canton, said she was worried the change in service provision from Dolphin to another agency would affect her health.
"I get very affected by change and lack of continuity – it's something which is important to the health and wellbeing for care users.
"I do think although carers are third party they know their clients best.
"Some council members have great intentions but this change will be too drastic."
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