Care home shake-up a ‘waste of money’

SOCIAL services staff from a council-run care home claim they are being made redundant today — but could be back working there via an agency tomorrow.

Up to 30 staff are leaving the Butler Green Care Home in Chadderton today through voluntary and compulsory redundancies, or moving jobs, as the running of the home is being transferred to the NHS.

But redundant staff claim social services has given them the contact details of private nursing company Apex Health and Social Care, which will supply the employees for the home.

They claim although the workers will be paid less to carry out their previous jobs, the council will be charged more for the service.

One person affected by the change, who did not want to be identified, said: “The whole situation is a waste of money.

“I’ll finish working for the council today and could be starting at the same home on Friday, but in a different uniform and answering to a different organisation.

“Leaving council employment means I’ll lose my council benefits but I don’t get much choice but to accept the work with the agency.

“For a lot of people this is their only income and their hands are tied in terms of accepting what Apex gives them. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

Paul Cassidy, the director of adult services, said a new enhanced intermediate care service for people who need serious medical attention will come into operation at Butler Green on Friday, staffed by NHS employees.

He said most of the current council staff opted for voluntary redundancy and others were placed in similar care jobs, but a small number of staff were made redundant.

He said: “The council discussed this with the NHS, however, there was no option to transfer these staff over. One alternative, which a few staff have chosen, is to sign up with the nursing care agency used by the NHS which will be providing cover at Butler Green.

“Oldham Council is committed to providing the best possible service to residents while at the same time doing what it can to redeploy staff wherever possible.

“Transferring Butler Green to the NHS will provide a more efficient and cost-effective service that is in line with the council aim to become a commissioning organisation.”


Oldham Council will also close Limecroft Care Home, on Whitebank Road, Limeside, today due to council budget cuts.