If I could put the book online for everyone to read I would.
To read some quotes from staff from all levels of the organisation please click here
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/The Alan Shearer Newcastle Story_0.pdf
Members will be familiar by now with the name of Fremantle & their partner Catalyst Housing
Read excerpt below
“8.2 In 2006 and 2007, two ‘Deficit Claims’ were received from Catalyst; both were subsequently rejected by the Council, and in 2008 these were formally referred by Catalyst to Arbitration. Given the size of the substantive claim, the Council’s legal advisers have recommended that an expert who has experience of outsourcing the management of care homes be appointed by the Council, to give evidence as to how an experienced provider should manage the Care Contract, to support the Council in the preparation and presentation of its case by Counsel and other consultants.”
Find the whole report online here
http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/reports/reportdetail.asp?ReportID=8022
I am one of the few still around from when the decision to privatise all our care homes and day services was made. It was clear that councillors were rushed into an ill thought out decision that has now back fired. Those Officers responsible have long gone……isn’t it always the case!
In terms of the report it is good news that the Council is seeking expert advice to support them with the arbitration process. Whatever the outcome of the decision valuable resources have been wasted over the last couple of years just dealing with the claim. If there is one lesson to be learnt it is don’t rush into decisions without making sure you have robust procurement and contract monitoring.
Money wasted on trying to clean up badly procured contracts is a waste of public money…money we are told we don’t have.
Five months ago the Trade Unions submitted a report on suggested improvements to our Procurement and Contract monitoring…we are still waiting to begin discussions.
It has been widely reported that the Trade Unions are being consulted throughout the Future Shape process. The Joint Trade Unions want to make it clear that they have had no part in the decision to privatise these services
Last week the Trade Unions were informed that Cemetery & Cremations services were going to be privatised (read public report here
http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/meetings/meetingdetail.asp?meetingid=4664
Pages 74 – 80
The background papers can be found here
10.1 London Borough of Barnet – Barnet Cemetery and Crematorium Option Appraisal – October 2008 – Sector Projects)
The Consultants were Capita. Their report was conducted between August and October last year. Yet the Trade Unions and staff were not told that the report was being conducted?
The report was written before the recession.
Do you remember this?
This appeared in January 2009 as part of Phase Two of the Future Shape. Cems & Cremas are clearly defined as a Quick Win. Clearly someone knew something the Trade Unions and staff didn’t.
Cems & Crems Timeline
August – October 2008 Capita Report produced (Trade Unions & staff not informed).
January 2009 Cems & Crems appears described as a ‘Quick Win’ in Future Shape Document
14 April 2009 TU’s told for the first time that a report recommending privatisation of Cems & Crems is going to Cabinet Resources Committee
23 April 2009 Cabinet Resources Committee make a decision on Cems & Crems
The Trade Unions are seeking an urgent meeting with the Director responsible for these Services
There are currently Seven Future Shape working groups looking at how public services could be configured in the future. Whatever the outcome of these meetings it is going to mean change. In the case of Future Shape it could mean significant change for you as staff.
It is no secret that a number of models of service provision are being looked at and ultimately costed.
This should be no surprise to public sector workers. In the 80’s and 90’s we had contracting out of public services under Thatcher & Major. The colour of the government changed but under Blair & Brown (New Labour) we have seen an increase in privatisation of public services. The difference with New Labour is that instead of the using ‘privatisation’ they used ‘outsourcing’ and introduced the friendly cuddly third sector i.e. voluntary bodies and charities. In Barnet we have seen a disastrous model of privatisation using the ‘third sector’. Our older people homes and day services were taken over by Fremantle & Catalyst. Not content with decimating our members’ terms & conditions they have only provided 3 out of the 5 brand new homes they were supposed to provide. To top it off they are in Arbitration over a claim against the Council for £8.672 million!
We expect the Groups will be looking at
For each service they will look at the above models and see if there is a business case. The Trade Union concerns are how these business cases are costed. This is not rocket science. The biggest cost to all Services are staff costs i.e. your terms & conditions. It is now widely acknowledged that the privatisation has meant a deterioration in terms & conditions and pensions for staff.
We are literally two months away and we have not been able to discuss these issues. We are concerned that if any business cases are presented to Cabinet on 8 June or any other Future Cabinet that they have to include TUPE Plus and Secondment costings.
TUPE does not protect the workforce after transfer which is why we submitted our employment charter to the Council in September last year.
Make sure you make time to come along to the public
Lobby of Barnet
Council Cabinet Committee on
8 June 2009
Monday 20 April 12 – 2 pm – Training room 6, Building 2
The story shows you can improve public services without going to the private sector. One of the authors Hilary Wainwright will be here to sign copies of the book £7.99 which we will sell to members for a discounted rate. Hilary will be accompanied by Professor Dexter Whitfield who played a key role working with the Newcastle UNISON branch and the Council to secure a successful in house tender for the back office services.
You can read a short report on Newcastle online here
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Newcastle%20Story.pdf
Dexter has just finished work with Bury UNISON in partnership with conservative controlled Bury (4 Star) Council to look at possible Options for their Support Services. Having looked at the Options; Bury Council has decided to look to an improved/efficient in house service to continue to deliver services.
Hilary & Dexter will be available for questions in
Monday 20th April in Training Room 6 Building 2 between 12 – 2 pm
Barnet Future Shape Transact Group will be looking at all Council services. Each service will be looked to ascertain whether it is a *Core or Non Core Service. It doesn’t matter if you are a Statutory Service, all services will be examined.
Each service will have to go through the 9 Future Shape Tests
· Cost significantly less.
· Take a different view of need, based on engaging with our population as citizens rather than customers of specific services.
· Are strategic and integrated, ensuring that resources are targetted to achieve priority outcomes.
· Facilitate greater self-help and service co-creation amongst members of our community.
· Are based on a clear contract between the citizens and services.
· Inspire behavioural change amongst our residents and businesses
· Can be accessed on the basis of citizen life challenges.
· Help citizens to achieve better outcomes in their lives
· Are democratically accountable
This Group is tasked with looking across the whole council which is clearly a mammoth task.
The Group began the work on 24th March. It is due to finish 20th April
You can view the Agenda and minutes of all the Group meetings here
http://barnet.headshift.com/display/PROJECTS/Home
You will need your Login details.
We know that lots of our members do not have Login details or have forgotten them. We will try and update our website with the details so members can view the information without the need of a Login. We have asked for hard copies of this information to be provided to staff.
Members please note that this Group will be making recommendations to the Future Shape Cabinet Committee on 8 June 2009.
* We are waiting for a definition of what Core means.
Residential Options for Older People in Barnet with 24hr cover – a summary
At home with Life Line or Telecare
Lifeline is a pendant alarm. The alarm is worn round the neck. The wearer presses the pendant to raise the alarm. The control centre takes the call and can communicate with the wearer and/ or contact relatives, friends or the emergency services. For someone to have a lifeline they must be able to understand what an emergency is and they must be able to know they press the button in an emergency. They must also be able to physically able to activate the pendant.
For people who have difficulty using a Lifeline there is telecare alarms. The person must wear the equipment which may be an alarm attached to a belt or may be a pendant. The alarm is merely dependent on the wearer radically changing position from vertical to horizontal to be activated. The change in position could indicate the wearer has fallen. This alarm also connects to the control centre. Once the alarm has been raised a similar procedure follows as with the Lifeline.
People can have these systems and be in warden controlled or sheltered housing.
Care packages can also supplement these forms of support.
Warden Controlled.
The warden does not live on site and so is not accessible 24/7. In all other respects this form operates the same as sheltered housing. The resident should not expect the warden to carry out aspects of care, and certainly not routinely. Nonetheless the warden contributes to a very smooth support network for the resident e.g. helping the resident settle back in home following a stay in hospital. The warden has contact with each resident at least once/ day to make sure they are ok. Referrals are dealt with by Housing department (except where privately owned).
Care packages can also supplement this form of support.
Sheltered Housing
The warden is lives in the sheltered accommodation or is accessible 24/7. The warden can provide valuable information on the habits and background of residents which also contribute massively to OT and social work assessments – probably health-led assessments also. Again the warden is not expected to contribute to provision of individual care routinely but definitely contributes in many ways to the smooth support for a resident to remain in an independent setting. The warden has contact with each resident at least once/ day to make sure they are ok. Referrals are dealt with by Housing department (except where privately owned).
Care packages can also supplement these forms of support.
Extra Care Housing
This form of support is new. Residents have flats within the unit as with sheltered housing. As a minimum they have 24hr support available similar to that provided by wardens. However, there are care workers who can be used to provide care and personal care support day and night. The idea being to enable someone to remain in a home setting as long as possible. The need for care during the night does not place someone at risk of having to move to residential care in this setting. Referrals come through social services or are made direct to the scheme.
The care package would be assessed by a social worker but is provided within the extra care housing.
Residential Care
The resident would have a private room possibly with ensuite shower and toilet. This is 24hr care. All residents in this setting would be very dependent on care workers for most aspects of their daily living and be at risk at night. Increasingly the referrals to these units are for adults with dementia or high risk of falls. Referrals are through social services unless someone makes a private arrangement. Extra Care Housing is promoted as being a superior form to Residential Care which is why residential care will increasingly have the “heavier end” of the care spectrum.
Nursing Care
The resident here would have a private room possibly with ensuite shower and toilet. This is 24hr care. The staffing ratios are higher here than for residential homes and there are more nurses available throughout the day and night. Residents here have complex and intense care needs 24/7. An element of the care provided is nursing care e.g.: people needing 24hr oxygen and not being able to operate it independently; people requiring assistance of 2 to mobilise and/ or needing a hoist to get in or out of bed; people who are at high risk of developing pressure sores due to their dependence on others for moving at all.
On 28 March thousands will march through London as part of a global campaign to challenge the G20 ahead of their summit on 2 April.
Even before the banking collapse, the world suffered poverty, inequality and the threat of climate chaos. The world has followed a financial model that has created an economy fuelled by ever-increasing debt, both financial and environmental.
Our future depends on creating an economy based on fair distribution of wealth, decent jobs for all and a low carbon future.
There can be no going back to business as usual.
People from all over the country will join the march on March 28.
Be one of them.
Listen to UNISON General Secretary on why members need to turn up and support the rally on Saturday 28 March.
click here http://www.unison.org.uk/video/video.asp?did=8381
For more information on the march go to Put People First website http://www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk/
The ASSEMBLY point for the march is now confirmed. Barnet UNISON members should gather (look out for our banner) from 11am on Victoria Embankment by Temple tube station on March 28th. The postcode is WC2R 2 PP. This is a link to a google map.
The nearest tube is Temple, but Embankment, Blackfriars and Waterloo are short walks away.
You will be aware we had lengthy discussions regarding the job descriptions. We have now begun the process of job evaluations. This means looking at the pay for each role. To date the only one which has been agreed is the Service Manager grade. We are in the middle of difficult negotiations about the pay rates for all other grades. This is taking some time as we are trying to be thorough and make sure people are properly recognised for the work they do. It is also the case I have 2 days per week to attend to Adult Social Services. It would be fair to say, at the moment, we do not see eye to eye on a number of points on the job evaluations. I will keep you updated.
Work-related Stress
In the middle of this I have been hearing of the stresses experienced by teams and individuals. I can only encourage those colleagues to speak up about those problems. Stress at work is an immediate Health and Safety issue and you should not feel you have to wait for a restructuring to take place in order to put an end to unacceptable levels of stress. Warning signs would, for instance, be breaking down in tears because of work, disrupted sleep pattern etc. Tell your UNISON representatives and your manager and discuss a way forward with them.
Safeguarding Audit
Also in the middle of the negotiations on the job evaluations the unions (UNISON and GMB) were suddenly given extra role profiles and evaluations to complete with respect to the Safeguarding team. These are also still in the process of being negotiated. Colleagues have identified, in casual conversations and approaches to the union, the safeguarding audit as being a source of additional stress.
I will be meeting with Social Workers in Adults Services to discuss the issue of minute taking in Adult Protection cases.
It’s Good to Talk
If anyone or group of workers wants to meet a UNISON rep to discuss a way forward with all of this I may not be able to arrange one instantly but I am always committed to meeting people to see what we can sort out. So please do contact me at the UNISON office if you need to arrange something. Sometimes advice over the phone can be a big help also.
You may want to convene a discussion with colleagues about other matters relating to the union or your work and work practices. It’s your union, your right to have your say, contact us to organise a meeting. This is often the first step to getting things to change. I will always do my best to attend and will always support those trying to change things for the better.
Helen Davies
Social Services Convenor (Job Share)
Contact us: 020 8359 2088.
helen.davies@barnetunison.org.uk
I am raising money for Comic Relief on Red Nose Day. I am also trying to raise awareness about Prostate Cancer. I have managed to make contact with a colleague from the PCT and she will be joining me in the Atrium in
http://beardsarecomingback.blogspot.com/2009/03/red-nose-one-week-away.html
http://beardsarecomingback.blogspot.com/2009/03/famous-and-some-not-so-famous-beards.html
If you would like to make a donation or learn about Prostate Cancer email me at john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk
Prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer to become the most common cancer in men.
Nearly 35,000 men are diagnosed every year in the
This increasing incidence is largely due to a higher number of cases being diagnosed, (through the greater use of PSA tests), and the influence of an ageing population.
Around 10,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in the
The majority of men with prostate cancer are aged over 60 years. Although this cancer can also occur in younger individuals, it is very rare under the age of 50
For more details go to the Prostate Cancer Charity website
http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/
