Kirkburton woman Karen Jones slams Kirklees Council’s use of private care staff

Nov 5 2009 by Nick Lavigueur, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

“The morale of the staff has been atrocious. They are all totally downhearted and feel that nobody listens to them.”

And Mrs Jones, who herself worked in the care industry for 20 years before her condition became too severe, said she was extremely upset that her personal and medical information may now be open to former colleagues in the private care sector.

But when she complained she was told the only option was to employ her own carer.

A Kirklees Council spokeswoman said: “We commission independent organisations to provide home care and also provide some specialist home care services ourselves.

“This means that people getting a home care service may get it from a home care worker employed by the council or by a home care worker employed by an independent organisation, we provide a service either from the council or an independent organisation depending on peoples’ needs.

“In order to ensure that we deliver support in the most effective way possible we do move some services into the independent sector.

“Before any changes take place we visit and discuss this with them. Standards for the delivery of services are set by the Care Quality Commission and the council monitors the standards of contracted services to ensure they are a high quality.

“All services are registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission. Anyone concerned about their home care service can call us on 01484 223015.”

Following the Examiner’s intervention Kirklees Council has allowed Mrs Jones to keep her existing care package.