Basic home care services could be privatised

The authority's executive has agreed to the plans in principle to give more work to private organisations.

Under the proposals, council staff would still provide all but the most basic home care services.

The plans will reduce costs but the council insists the move is about delivering better quality care.

The scheme could see about half of the hours currently undertaken by council staff taken over by private organisations.

Council workers would still deal with people with conditions such as dementia or complex and changing needs as well as the first six weeks of all packages.

Spokesman John Askew said the proposals could improve the care provided in the region.

'High quality'

"The intention of the review is not to reduce the quality of care at all," he said.

"Although clients may find that they have a different provider once the review is completed they will have the same high quality and standards of care that they have at present."

If the care service review goes ahead it could save about �400,000 over the next two years.

Mr Askew stressed that the council hoped any jobs impact could be lessened by retirements, redeployment or finding new posts with the private care providers.