“Outsourcing services for adults with disabilities is not working in Barnet”
Barnet UNISON Press Release: “Outsourcing services for adults with disabilities is not working in Barnet”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 25 November
On Wednesday 27 November at 7 pm in Hendon Town Hall Barnet Councillors on the Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee will consider a Task & Finish Report on the future of the failing outsourced One Barnet experiment Your Choice Barnet (YCB) which provides services for adults with disabilities.
In March this year YCB began consultation with trade unions as a result of serious financial difficulties. The service had to bailed out by publicly owned Barnet Homes to the tune of £1million along with proposals for a restructure, serious cuts to pay and terms and conditions of the workforce.
In July a Task & Finish Group was given the brief to review YCB.
Barnet UNISON and Parent/Carers Group CADDSS both made submissions to the Task & Finish Group.
UNISON has seen the report which fails to address the serious financial viability of this service.
UNISON has four key recommendations to all councillors on Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee
1. Bring back the service in-house.
2. Agree with the unions a time table to achieve a sustainable workforce by substantially increasing staff working with permanent employment contracts and reducing the numbers of casual staff.
3. Develop a robust framework for consulting with carers and service users on changes to the services including staffing issues.
4. Shelve the benchmarking exercise of salaries in order to improve staff morale and sustain high quality service.
John Burgess UNISON Branch Secretary said: Barnet Council “Task and Finish report does not provide convincing evidence on which to have any confidence that the LATC will be able to achieve a safe, sustainable and high quality service. It is critical to the future of these services that common sense is applied as opposed to political dogma. Bring these services back in-house and bring peace of mind to parents/carers and secure a future for service users.”
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Notes to Editors.
Contact details: John Burgess Barnet UNISON on 07738389569 or 0208 359 2088 or email: john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk
Links
Background
In February 2012 Barnet Council transferred learning disability and physical and sensory impairment services for adults to a Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) together with Barnet Homes, the Arms Length Management Organisation managing the council housing stock. About 160 staff (145.6 Full Time Equivalents) in Adults services transferred to the LATC.
1. UNISON response to Your Choice Task & Finish report
2. ‘The way out of financial crisis’ by Professor Dexter Whitfield
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/CADDSS%20analysis%20.pdf
3. UNISON response to Your Choice Consultation paper
4. The Secret Cuts: Part One, Social Care http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/05/secret-cuts-part-one-social-care
5. Your Choice board walks out after being lobbied by campaigners http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/10452438.Your_Choice_board_walks_out/