Social care worker: 'The great thing about this work is being able to help people.'

Employer: 'And when did you start having these delusions?'

See also:

• R.I.P. Devon Social Services (10 Feb 06)

• Crocodile tears over job cuts (2 Feb 06)

• Meals-on-Wheels service to be farmed out (16 Jan 06)

2,300 jobs to go in Social Care - 7 Feb 06

from the website of The Western Morning News (opens in a new window)

Union officials are claiming 2,300 front line staff stand to lose their jobs in a social services sell-off in Devon.

Social workers, occupational therapists and support workers face redundancy, UNISON says, if Devon County Council goes ahead with contracting out adult social services.

UNISON, which met council leaders yesterday, says the proposals will cause a decline in the standard of care for the elderly and vulnerable in Devon.

UNISON social services representative Bernie Crean said:

'The consequence of this will be a much reduced staff trying to provide services where they are struggling now. I think at the end of the day they are taking a big gamble - there is no guarantee that it is going to work.

'The people who will suffer will be the vulnerable people of Devon and the very small workforce that is left.'

However council leader Brian Greenslade denied both that 2,300 people would lose their jobs, or that the service offered to people in the county would get worse.

The council admitted last night that it is consulting on proposals to sell off to the private sector its residential homes for the elderly and disabled, as well as day care centres and home care services. UNISON claimed 25 homes are affected.

The council admits a number of management jobs in the social services department(sic) are set to go before the end of the next financial year. UNISON claims 180 people will be made redundant.

The proposals would mean all adult social services in Devon being contracted out, transferring some of the cost of caring for rising numbers of elderly people to the private sector.

The council faces a £15 million budget shortfall and a clamour to keep council tax bills as low as possible. Its executive will meet this afternoon to discuss the budget for the coming financial year. Mr Crean said: 'It is ridiculous. It is all being driven by money.'

UNISON has been told by the council that the social services 'modernisation programme', which was to have taken place over three years, would now be 'telescoped' into 12-18 months.

It is understood the council is not looking at closing care homes or ending services, but they may be transferred to private ownership, or to a council 'arms length' company.

The council would then continue to pay whoever ran the homes or services, but for a lesser amount than if it controlled them itself.

But Mr Crean said the private sector would 'cherry pick' the most profitable parts of the service in populous areas like Exeter, leaving more isolated parts of Devon without a service.

'The people of Devon need to realise that they are going to get a far less good quality service,' he said.

Coun Greenslade said:

'What we are talking about is doing more of our services by liaising with the private sector - we are not talking about 2,300 job losses. There may be less people working for Devon County Council directly. No decisions will be taken until there has been a full consultation.'