Campaigners last week welcomed news that the Carlisle-based Careline service – which helps around 4,000 vulnerable and elderly people – is likely to be taken over.
But it has now been confirmed that the jobs of the 26 people running the emergency response service will go.
The social landlord Riverside, which provides the service, has been in talks with potential alternative providers and insiders say it is days away from agreeing a solution.
But this will not involve transferring current Careline staff to the new provider, says Riverside.
The landlord has, however, created 15 new jobs at its Botchergate HQ in Carlisle and it has confirmed that seven of the staff whose jobs are being axed will move to new roles.
One of the workers facing redundancy said: “Our jobs are definitely finished and we’re being made redundant on April 4. Riverside have created 15 jobs [at its Carlisle HQ], which involves answering calls.
“We’ve had interviews and only four of us have been told we’re suitable for these jobs.
“So as far as we’re concerned another 11 jobs are still available.
“Riverside say our jobs won’t be transferred over to the new employer because they’d be different jobs.
“It’s all very distressing to our clients. We provide our emergency response service to clients in Carlisle, Wigton, Brampton and Longtown, and they know the workers involved and like the fact they’re near. We think the whole thing is disgusting.”
A Riverside spokeswoman confirmed that the Careline service will close but said that the landlord had worked closely with unions while going through the current closure process.
She said: “It was accepted that while these roles are both phone-based and dealing with customers the skills and knowledge required are very different and therefore it was not appropriate to automatically transfer people to these new posts.
“Riverside is delighted to confirm that seven people whose roles were placed at risk have already secured alternative positions within the organisation. Consultation is ongoing with the remaining employees whose roles were placed at risk.”
She said Riverside would continue to provide its Telecare Monitoring service in Cumbria which will include the installation and maintenance of Telecare equipment.
This service, known as the Riverside Helpline, is already successfully provided by the landlord to customers across the country.
It will be available to anybody who needs and wants it. The spokeswoman added: “Discussions with other potential providers for the [emergecy] response element of the service which was part of Careline are commercially sensitive and we cannot comment on this.”
Last month, there was a furious response after Riverside announced plans to axe the Careline emergency response service in Carlisle as part of an effort to plug a £7.5m hole in finances.
Supporters said that the service has been a vital part of allowing vulnerable elderly people to continue living independently.
Related articles:
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here