A CHARD carer has hit out at the council claiming care workers with more than 30 years’ experience could be forced out of their job in a new deal with Dimensions.

Care workers and supporters are set to hold a silent protest at County Hall in Taunton today (Wednesday, March 15) while the plans for Somerset’s Learning Disability Services are being discussed in a Somerset County Council (SCC) cabinet meeting.

Unison, a public service union, and staff members are calling for the start of the contract, which could see pay cuts and new terms and conditions for employees, to be delayed to allow for consultations to take place.

Compensation for staff transferring from SCC to the Social Enterprise charity contract from Dimensions will also be discussed.

A Chard care worker who wished to remain anonymous said: “I feel the Dimensions bid, if allowed to continue, will put many people with learning disabilities at risk as staff will be forced to leave their jobs through ruthless renegotiation of their pay, terms and conditions.

“I have 20 years’ experience working with learning disabilities and take on many responsibilities as part of my role. We work anti-social hours every day of the year and are already understaffed at a level approaching critical.

“Several staff I know have already left the service and friends of mine who wanted to work for us have taken jobs with private providers instead. If more staff leave, several homes I am aware of will be put under safeguarding and may have to close.

“We are talking about people who have been working in these jobs, some for more than 30 years. These are people with decades of experience in work and quite complex work with people with quite complex needs. The people that provide the service are the service. If you lose the people you have no service. This is going to affect thousands of carers’ families and thousands of service users’ families.

“I cannot afford to take the proposed pay cut and will have to find another job if forced out. I am sure the majority of my colleagues are in the same position.”

Cllr Nigel Pearson, county councillor for Chard North, said: “This transfer to Dimensions, a private provider, is due to take place on April 1, even though the council has not entered into negotiations with the staff on changes to pay and terms of employment which are covered by the TUPE regulations.

“TUPE negotiations normally take place before staff are transferred to a new employer, failure to do so will leave the council open to legal action and in particular claims for constructive dismissal.”

A compensation fund was set up last year to offset changes to pay and conditions. This could be increased following a social care funding announcement in last week’s budget, which will see Somerset given an extra £11m in 2017/18. The terms of the compensation package remains confidential until the staff complete their transfer on April 1.

Cllr John Osman, leader of SCC, said: “I have had concerns expressed by some of those using this service that they want our caring staff to remain working with them. I do understand and acknowledge the level of anxiety and upset but we must not lose sight of the fact that we are doing the right thing for those using our services.”

Trade union Unison, which has been leading the protest, organised a demonstrations outside County Hall in February, and will also help organise the silent protest today.

A spokesman from Unison, a public service union, said: “We have worked together with the Liberal Democrats on the issue. They got the issue on the agenda. We had quite a lot of people, including staff members and service users, giving testimonies. Some of the Conservatives didn’t turn up to the meeting, they clearly made a choice.”

Cllr Amanda Broom, a Lib Dem district councillor, said: “I have been speaking to residents who will be affected by these changes, and the more I understand the implications, the more staggered I am by Somerset County Council’s approach. People choose this vocation because they care. They are completely committed to their work and are distraught that financially they may not be able to carry on.

“Yet again, those most in need of help are being denied by savage cuts. It is appalling, and a desperately difficult time for many in our community.”

A spokesman for SCC said: “The council takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and welfare of the vulnerable people in its care very seriously. The transfer to a new charitable social enterprise is about modernising the learning disabilities service and making it sustainable for the long-term.

“There is a lot of good work going on in the service but it hasn’t been able to keep pace with the people’s changing needs and aspirations. Unless there is change the current service will wither on the vine.”