Troubled SB Cares hit with collective staff grievance

by EWAN LAMB

The recent decision by Scottish Borders Council to axe its controversial social care company has been followed by strong demands from the trade union representing hundreds of front line staff who deliver home care to frail and vulnerable members of the community.

Arms length limited liability partnership (LLP) SB Cares will be dissolved in a matter of weeks with services being taken back in house following the company's failures on a number of fronts.

SB Cares was only formed in 2015 after councillors accepted there was no long term future for in-house social care delivery.

Now the shortcomings of the arms length services have been laid bare by UNISON, the union having lodged a Collective Grievance on behalf of its members.

A notice on the Unison website says: "UNISON Scottish Borders Public Services branch is currently awaiting a formal response from SB Cares after submitting a collective grievance on behalf of homecare workers concerned about their working conditions.

"Following recent members meetings with homecare staff in Kelso and Peebles, and results from a membership survey produced by UNISON, it has become more than apparent that there are a variety of workplace issues that need to be addressed and rectified by SB Cares.

"Issues include; staff travel time not being adequately factored in to rotas, staff being asked to deliver complex care without proper training and 15 minute visits for clients."

Kaymarie Hughes of UNISON Scottish Borders Public Services branch said: “UNISON Scottish Borders Branch feel that this is an appropriate time to raise this collective grievance, as we want to ensure that the issues are addressed and rectified, given the move to return SB Cares back into Scottish Borders Council control.

“Staff are constantly pushed to breaking point and often not able to take breaks, some of our members report being forced to deliver complex palliative care to clients.UNISON members are not willing to tolerate these working conditions anymore, because the clients and the staff deserve better."

A copy of the grievance has also been published. This is the text in full:

This is a collective grievance on behalf of our home care members.

• Home care workers have been subject to detriment due to ongoing issues with travel time. Travel times are currently not being adequately factored in to rotas, meaning that staff are constantly pushed to breaking point and often not able to take their allocated rest break.

• There is an inconsistency on how overtime / additional hours is paid to homecare staff.

• Homecare staff who have not been adequately trained are asked to deliver complex palliative care to clients. • Staff are being scheduled in for 15 minute visits, which is not good for continuity of care.

• Staff are still unable to understand their payslips which leads to them being unable to keep track of payments for overtime, travel or additional hours worked.

Resolution Sought:

• Appropriate times to be allocated to allow homecare staff sufficient time to carry out allotted tasks and travel between service users.

• Appropriate times to be allocated to allow homecare staff to take sufficient rest breaks.

• Staff paid properly and consistently for any additional hours, travel and overtime that is worked.

• Staff not asked to deliver any specialist care that they have not been trained for.

• The allocation of 15 minute visits for anything other than medication checks within a close proximity are not acceptable and must end.