The controversial plan by North Ayrshire’s Integration Joint Board to bring its older people’s Care at Home service fully in-house has been backed by Unison. 

At present home care services, which support adults with a range of care needs at home, is delivered by a mix of organisations including three private companies 1st Homecare, TLC and Delight Supported Living.

The contracts for these three private companies end in June and the services they provide will brought in-house.

North Ayrshire Council have confirmed that existing private sector care staff will be offered contracts with the in-house Care at Home service, under TUPE regulations, safeguarding jobs in North Ayrshire.

Read more: https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/24169927.scottish-care-slams-north-ayrshire-bid-take-service/

The decision has been condemned by the private providers, their employees and their national, body, Scottish Care, who claim the move upset many of their clients and said the move would leave those most at risk worse off.

But Unison insisted that the move will result in improved conditions for care staff across North Ayrshire, promoting greater stability and improved quality of care for service users.

Unison North Ayrshire branch secretary Louise McDaid said: “This decision will not only improve the quality of care for our older people in North Ayrshire, but also shows how much the council value their social care staff. We welcome this decision.

“Social care staff are consistently undervalued, so I’m pleased to see this recognised in North Ayrshire with this investment in the staff who work hard day in day out to provide quality care to the most vulnerable people in our community.”

"The decision to protect care staff jobs and create a valuable career of choice puts the quality of care at the heart of this new service. And it is great to see staff rewarded for their commitment.

"This promotes greater stability in the service and will improve the  quality of care for people of North Ayrshire who need it.”