Home Care Users' Group unhappy with care changes by Kirklees Council

Dec 1 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

“The issues with the system people are bringing forward have dropped off significantly now.”

But campaigners said they believe big changes are still needed to improve the service.

Kirkburton resident Mrs Jones, who suffers with dystonia and requires care, said: “Their (the service’s) priority is to create a workforce that’s easy to manage, but they are not thinking about the people who need consistency in their care.

“The new rotas sound better, but we’re still going to have the problem of not having the same carer at particular times and having to explain our requirements to staff again, which for some people is just not possible.”

Brigid Harbour, of Marsden, is fronting the campaign to fight changes to Kirklees home care services.

She said: “The services need to be pulled back in-house as private companies are about making a profit and I believe the standards of care suffer.

“The new system of working also doesn’t work and why should we expect staff, who make their jobs fit in with looking after disabled children and other commitments, change?

“I think the quality of peoples’ care needs to be thought about more than ticking boxes and at the moment I think there are massive problems with the system.”