By Pamela McGowan Health reporter

Last updated at 14:44, Saturday, 06 October 2012

A health watchdog is investigating claims that some care services being paid for by Cumbria County Council are below standard and exploiting workers.

Campaigners say they have received allegations that care staff are not being paid for travel time between visits, meaning earnings are below the minimum wage.

As a result, it is also claimed that patients are receiving declining standards of care from some providers.

Cumbria LINk, the county’s health watchdog, claims it has been told that some social care contracts in the county are failing to provide quality services for both the people who rely on the services and on those who deliver them.

It has not made the names of the providers public and stresses that these are just allegations at this stage.

However, Jane MacFarlane, the LINk’s representation team manager, said they had a duty to determine whether there was any truth in them – and has appealed to the public for more information.

“We are concerned that the quality of care services is being jeopardised due to reduced terms and conditions for care workers,” she said.

“LINk wants to ensure that quality care services are maintained for those who are in need of them. Vulnerable and isolated people deserve the best quality care that can be provided for them.”

The issue came to light at the Eden Locality Stakeholder Group in Penrith.

Nick Waterfield, from Cumbria County Council, told members that all tenders submitted to the authority must include travel costs.

He added that contracts must comply with minimum wage legislation.

Mr Waterfield has asked anyone who may have evidence that this is not the case to come forward and say what experiences they have.

He also told the meeting that there was no excuse for poor quality of care as money was available for training costs for care workers – but no provider of care services had yet accessed the fund.

Following this meeting, Mrs MacFarlane said: “It is encouraging to hear that the county council has procedures in place to ensure quality of care and that they do not condone the non-payment of travel time or any breaches of minimum wage legislation.”

A council spokesman said: “We pay all contracted care and support providers an hourly rate in excess of the minimum wage, and while the average payment across all areas is £14 per hour, we pay higher rates for rural areas to allow for additional costs associated with travel and time. Terms and conditions for individual employees are between those individuals and their employers.

“We’re not aware of a contracted care provider which doesn’t comply with minimum wage requirements.”

Mrs MacFarlane added: “People who are not happy with the quality of the care that they are receiving or care workers who are not being paid for travel time should contact Cumbria LINk so that we can ask the council to do something about it.”

To contact Cumbria LINk call 01768 800350 or visit cumbrialink.org.uk.

First published at 12:39, Saturday, 06 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk