FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Now they want to outsource social work!”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Now they want to outsource social work!”

At the Adults and Safeguarding Committee on Thursday 12th November, 2015 7pm councillors will be making the following decisions:

1. To agree the proposed approach to developing an outline business case for an alternative delivery model.

2. To engage with potential partners and providers to test their appetite and capability to deliver all or some of the ADM.

3. To delete 46 posts (42 in the first year and 4 in the second year)

The report recommends replacing qualified workers with non- professionally qualified workers in order that the alternative delivery model makes the required staff savings.

The following extracts from Barnet UNISON’s report sent to councillors raises these points amongst others:

· “The potential fragmentation of ASC and care contractor provision with too many services or functions provided by different organisations could lead to poorly coordinated and integrated services. (page 5)

· This looks like a repeat of the Your Choice Barnet scenario when Barnet Council ignored Barnet UNISON’s analysis, which forecast a financial crisis that led to job losses, wage cuts and an inadequate CQC rating.

· The Council report does not explain what other options were considered, nor does it identify the criteria by which the options were evaluated, which undermines the assumptions made.

UNISON Branch Secretary John Burgess said: Quite frankly the proposals scare the life out of me. Whilst management try to play down the significance of yet another options appraisal, Barnet staff are wearied by the relentless outsourcing and have no confidence that councillors will turn away from the expensive outsourcing fundamentalism which has taken control of the council strategic thinking for the past seven years. Barnet staff are already seeing the consequences from previous outsourcing both in terms of service quality and attacks to the workforce. Barnet is already offering Barnet staff £500 if they refer a social worker. If this decision gets the go ahead then the growing social work crisis could become a mass exodus if the council remains wedded to outsourcing this service.

End.

Notes to Editors.

Contact details: John Burgess Barnet UNISON on 07738389569 or 0208 359 2088 or email: john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk

1. “Outsourcing, Cuts, Job Losses & New Operating Model” Barnet UNISON

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/Barnet%20UNISON%20ASC%20response%20.pdf

2. CQC ; Barnet Supported Living Service

http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-112848964

3. “We told you so!” UNISON response to Care Quality Commission (CQC) poor ratings” Barnet UNISON

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/YCB%20PRESS%20RELEASE%20MARCH%2010%202015.pdf