CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has actioned contingency plans to continue the care and employment of those affected by Friday’s announcement from Allied Healthcare to transfer its contracts.
Allied Healthcare provides a range of care services to people in need, and is commissioned by the local authority to deliver domiciliary care services to 120 clients in Carmarthenshire.
The company announced earlier this year that it was in financial difficulties and sought a company voluntary arrangement with its creditors.
Carmarthenshire County Council had put early contingency plans in place, which has allowed immediate action to be taken following the company’s most recent announcement.
The council is meeting with the company today (November 19, 2018) and will write letters to the staff and service users affected.
Cllr Jane Tremlett, Executive Board Member for Health and Social Care, said: “Most importantly we want to reassure those people receiving a service, and their families, who are affected by Allied’s announcement that their care will continue.
“We are meeting with the company today with a view to identifying around 80 members of staff who are providing domiciliary care on behalf of Allied to people in Carmarthenshire, and transferring them into the employment of Carmarthenshire County Council.
“We will be writing to staff and service users today to provide the necessary reassurance.”
Jake Morgan, Director for Communities, added: “We have robust contingency plans in place which means we are in an immediate position to offer transfer of employment to our existing in-house provision for any Carmarthenshire staff affected. These are highly valued and experienced members of staff who deliver important services to vulnerable people in our communities and I’d like to offer reassurance that their employment is safe.
“We are also working closely with colleagues in Pembrokeshire to ensure continuity of services across the county border.”
Letters are likely to be issued later today, and a series of information drop-in sessions are also being arranged.
Further communication will be made over the coming days to all those affected.
A spokesperson for Allied Healthcare said: “The Stage 6 notification has negatively impacted Allied Healthcare, leading a number of customers to transfer care services to alternative providers, and disrupting staff retention and recruitment.
“These developments have intensified the impact of the challenging environment within which we operate and come immediately prior to the Christmas period, when pressures on care providers are at their highest. This has also meant that we have had to re-evaluate our long-term business plan.
“We are therefore actively exploring a range of options in order to minimise disruption to continuity of care, including the sale or transition of care and support services on a regional or contract-by-contract basis to alternative providers best placed to deliver care at a local level. Such sales or transitions will involve the transfer of staff. This process will be conducted in close cooperation with our customers.
“We continue to trade safely while this process is underway. RBS as our existing lender has agreed to extend our current credit line by up to three weeks beyond 30 November, enabling us to deliver safe continuity of care whilst we explore and implement these options
“We will work closely with the CQC and all commissioners of care to ensure that there is minimal disruption to the care that we provide across the UK whilst this transition takes place. Continuity of care is our number one priority.”
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