Union warning that split shifts will force care workers to leave

Cllr Richard Watts, Mike Calvert, Jane Doolan and Cllr Andy Hull at the launch of a staff manifesto
Published: 6 March, 2015
by PETER GRUNER
CARE workers in Islington are warning that the service will deteriorate if they have to split work over longer periods and different times of the day.
Unions are blaming management for the introduction of complicated split shifts which take no account of travel times, and family and other commitments.
The situation is so bad that Unison and GMB trade unions are saying that many of the most experienced care workers are threatening to leave the service.
Split shifts are where working hours are divided into two blocks or more. A shift might start at 8am and go on until 11am with a five- or six-hour break before workers have to come back for another four-hour stint.
The row is particularly embarrassing for the council coming a year after it signed an Ethical Care Charter with the unions which put an end to “poverty wages”, banned the infamous 15- minute care visits and stopped clients being put to bed by busy care workers at 5pm.
Unison branch secretary Jane Doolan blames management for not listening to the complaints of the borough’s 40 care workers.
“Many of our care workers are suffering anxiety and stress,” she said. “They worry about the amount of time it takes to get to a client and whether they can provide a proper and professional service.
“Remember, our care workers are helping clients live at home and ensuring they don’t need to go into full-time care.”
Unison’s deputy branch secretary Mike Calvert fears the new system could be the beginning of “creeping casualisation”.
He said: “It could mean staff given less flexibility and less employment protection.
“We know the council wants the Care Charter to work but some managers are not interpreting the word of it.”
Islington commissions homecare services for vulnerable residents with moderate care needs to enable them to keep their independence by living in their own home as long as possible.
The Care Charter sets minimum standards to protect the dignity and quality of life for people who need homecare.
It commits councils to buying homecare only from providers who give workers enough time, training and a living wage so they can care properly.
It also bans the use of zero-hour contracts, pays the London living wage and  matches the time allocated to visits to the particular needs of a client.
Welfare chief Councillor Janet Burgess said: “I’m sorry if our care staff have problems over their shift systems but this is an issue they should discuss with their managers.
“We are proud of our Ethical Care Charter, which should mean good working practices. It should also mean there are no rushed 15-minute care slots and people being put to bed at 5pm.
“It’s a difficult problem and I hope it can be sorted out. We need continued good quality of care.”