Care firm's sudden closure storm

STAFF at an Oldham home care company have hit out at the "barbaric" treatment by their employers after workers and service users were given just four days notice that the company would be closing.

Community Voice, based at Hollinwood Business Centre, ceased providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes earlier this month after deciding not to extend their contract with Oldham Council.

However 31 staff members and up to 55 service users were only informed that they would need to seek alternative employment or support just three days before it closed for good.

Terry Magraw, who spent 18 months at the company as a care coordinator, said: "It is disgusting.

"The way the company have treated staff and service users is barbaric.

"Service users and their families are really upset and in tears about what has happened, some of them have had the same carer for ten years and know them well.

"Luckily new care companies have been found for them but it isn't the same."

He added that despite being told they would be losing their jobs, staff continued to provide care in the final days before the company shut but have yet to receive all of the wages they are owed.

Terry (42) said: "We got a text message after the company closed saying we wouldn't be paid.

"We've received our wage slips but so far we've only had £100 a week put into our bank account.

"It means we are owed the final two weeks wages alongside pay for our four-week notice and redundancy.

"Some staff have managed to get employment however many are still worried about how they will be able to pay their rent or bills while they are waiting for the money.

"It is outrageous.

"No wonder there is a care crisis when companies treat staff and service users this way."

Other employees, who wished to remain anonymous said: "All we received was an email on the Wednesday telling us that after our calls on Sunday we would cease to be employed by the company.

"It was appalling.

"But we still had to be professionals and put a smile on our faces and carry on with our work to make sure the vulnerable people we support received the care they needed.

"We give 110 per cent as carers so to be treated like this and to have no communication is a disgrace."

Zena Duffy, whose 88-year-old mother Anna Hopkins was a service user of Community Voice for three years until the abrupt closure also criticised the way the situation had been handled.

She said: "It has been very traumatic.

"My mother is very vulnerable as she has Alzheimer's and other medical conditions and carers at Community Voice had worked very hard to get her into a routine.

"To be given just three days notice that the company was closing and my mum would have new carers is terrible.

"We've had no information from the company and I've had to chase everything myself to find out who would be taking over care for my mum."

She added that she had been able to work with social services to find out which home care company her mother's original carers would be moving to in order to ensure continuity for her mother's care.

Zena continued: "The carers at Community Voice have always been great and it was vital that my mum would be cared for in the same way and by the same carers but more could have been done to ensure the transition process was as easy as possible."

Owen Shead Managing Director of the company, said the company decided not to extend their contract with Oldham Council after learning the new rates and terms of the contract and arranged a meeting with the Council regarding staff transfer and a handover of clients.

Due to the capacity of alternative providers, a decision was made that clients should be handed back within five days, which was a agreed by Community Voice, and staff were informed immediately.

He said: " Our aim was to secure a seamless transfer of service without disruption to service delivery to clients.

"We felt it unfortunate that the availability of alternative providers prompted Oldham Council to transfer clients very quickly, and forgo the transition process/period we offered, but we can appreciate this was for their own concerns for client welfare and to make use of the immediate availability they had on hand.

"Of course we cannot know if this was fully achieved as contact with clients and their families passed out of our hands.

"We sincerely hope so and have not received any word from Oldham Council to say there have been any problems."

He added that staff were given the maximum notice possible and due weeks wages have been paid - with only final queries outstanding.

He continued: "This is inevitable in such a circumstance and we have undertaken to ensure that no employee will be left unpaid.

"In the very short timescale available to us this is the best we could do.

"We have expressed our deep regret to both employees and many clients about the way in which the service transfer came about.

"We would very much liked a longer period to complete Oldham Council transfer instructions but had little choice

"In the event we made strenuous efforts and met prime duty of care to clients."

Councillor Jenny Harrison, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Safeguarding, said: "Community Voice informed us on April 3 that they would cease to provide care for up to 55 service users in Oldham.

"With the primary concern being the welfare of our vulnerable residents, we had to act quickly to secure alternative care for them.

"However, Community Voice had not informed their staff at the point they gave us notice, and it was in the best interests of the staff that they were told by their employer before we informed service users.

"We ensured this happened and have since helped some members of staff from Community Voice find other employment opportunities.

"By April 10 we had arranged for nine different providers in Oldham to care for those people affected. Our social care staff have also visited those service users to undertake reviews and to offer reassurance. We also put our crisis response service, MioCare, on standby during this process.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused to those who received a service from Community Voice at the time, their families and staff. We are confident we have done all we can to make this process as easy as possible for all involved and ensured every person has continued to receive the support they need to manage their independence."