Restructuring a bad idea: union

Cutting staff  at Idea Services’ Dunedin programmes would put clients and staff at risk, a union says.

In two concurrent reviews, Idea Services has proposed reducing staff at activity programmes, and integrating those programmes  with a residential service.

Staff who work as vocational support workers would be offered  roles that involve residential work, including sleepovers.

The reviews affect 23 staff in four activity programmes, and the Thorn St residential service.

Etu organiser Ann Galloway said clients would get less one-on-one time and outings, and the staff-to-client ratio would be one to seven.

Mrs Galloway released the union’s formal feedback to the review process.

"It has been pointed out that in the event of a fire or other emergency there would not be enough staff on site to evacuate the service-users.

"Staff believe that this is a cost-saving exercise that has no benefit for them or the service-users, and that the service will merely become a baby-sitting service, which they believe is not what Idea Services is about," the union response says.

Mrs Galloway told the Otago Daily Times vocational staff with no experience of residential work would be expected to take residential roles.

It was possible no redundancy payments would be offered because staff could be offered other roles, which would be "pretty harsh", especially for people unable to do sleepover shifts, Mrs Galloway said.

The organisation has not presented staff with a final structure  yet but has released documents  explaining the rationale of the reviews.

Asked for a response to the concerns, Idea Services spokeswoman Gina Rogers, of Wellington, said in a statement that Idea Services’ residential and day programmes met health and safety requirements.

"In this case the vocational day services being provided are beyond what we are funded [by the Government] for ... Therefore we are trying to find solutions that ensure the people we support still get the best service and varied experiences.

"We value our staff and want to offer as many as possible full-time hours, if they want it ... Where changes are made we will always try to offer people work elsewhere.

"We are always looking for good people and always seek to keep good people," Ms Rogers said.

Mrs Galloway said there was no firm timeframe for the review but she understood a new  structure would be in place before the end of the year.

Idea Services, which is part of IHC, supports people with intellectual disabilities.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz