‘Wholesale, fundamental changes to the entire way social and residential care for our older community could be on the way.’
That’s the warning from Douglas North MHK Bill Henderson who fears for the staff, residents and families if residential homes and other social care services are ‘hived off to the private or pseudo-private sector’.
He was speaking after Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw outlined plans in the House of Keys to outsource some care services to non-profit driven ‘social enterprises’.
Staff were briefed about the proposals at the end of last month. First to go down this route, over the next six months, is domiciliary care, followed next year by Ingledene learning difficulties residential service. Southlands resource centre in Port Erin will follow the next year. Reayrt Ny Baie and Cummal Mooar resource centres will be similarly ‘externalised’ during 2016-18.
Other residential services for those with learning difficulties will be outsourced and the only services that will be retained will be those that focus on those with the most complex needs, including EMI residential care, complex learning disability residential respite and supported living services.
Social work services will be retained but two resource centres for children with disabilities are proposed to be outsourced in the next two to three years.
Mr Henderson said: ‘The whole social landscape of how services are provided for older people looks set to change.
‘The Minister and his department are looking to hive off Reayrt ny Baie and Cummal Moore residential homes, the largest in the Island, Home Care, and a plethora of other services. All beds lost.
‘I fear for the staff, residents, resident’s families and most of all: is this the message of cold comfort the government are now looking set to give to our growing elderly population – a one way ticket to the private or pseudo private sector? Is this the government’s answer to care for older people?’
Mr Henderson claimed beds are already being occupied at Noble’s with older patients having difficulty finding affordable residential care following the closure of the Glenside residential home.
He added: ‘This policy is a policy of abandonment, is short sighted, spiteful and discriminatory in what it is hoping to achieve. It will only end up costing the tax payer more money than it will save.’
Mr Robertshaw in his briefing to staff insisted no final decision has been taken.
In his written reply to Keys questions from Mr Henderson, Mr Robertshaw said it is not his department’s wish or intention to privatise services, but rather transfer them to a social enterprise, where surpluses are reinvested back into the service it provides or the community it serves.
He said the proposal, as yet approved, was to replace both Reayrt Ny Baie and Cummal Mooar as neither meet current registration and inspection standards.
Mr Henderson said this was ‘utter rubbish’.
He said: ‘Reayrt ny Baie has just benefited from tens of thousands of pounds in upgrades and refurbishment. These buildings are relatively new.
‘Are these homes going to be left derelict like Glenside?
‘The waste of money is incredulous.’