GMB Magazine GMB25 Centre Point Summer 2016 | Page 6

TAKING
ACTION

nditions
On pay and co

GMB OUT IN FORCE
The care home’s owners are
warned top be careful...

e
m
o
h
e
Car

CONFUSION
With job cuts and a reduction of places threatened,
GMB stands up to protect Heartlands care home

G

MB is fighting for both the
residents and staff at Heartlands
Care Home in Yardley, which is
owned by County Court Care.
Having acquired the home in January,
the company unveiled plans to refurbish it.
A reduction in the number of residents by
more than 50 per cent was announced,
GMB was de-recognised by the new owner,
and the company was planning to make
38 of 86 staff redundant.

MORTALITY FEARS
GMB and Labour MP Jess Philips stepped in
to oppose the move, and County Court is to
rethink its decisions. Its plans would have
discriminated against residents whose
funding comes from
Birmingham City
Council and the Clinical
Commissioning Group.
Private residents would
not have been affected.
Now the company
says it will move 36
of the 70 residents
elsewhere but their places won’t be lost.
However, moving elderly and vulnerable

patients can be disastrous,
Justine Jones, GMB organiser,
with mortality rates as high
said: “Carers tell us they feel
as 43 per cent.
that they are too short-staffed
Jess Philips said: “I’m
to cope with the current
still concerned about
number of residents,
moving this number of
but still have to provide
vulnerable residents.
decent care. They have
The fact is that there
to support residents and
are significant risks
families who are worried
associated with moving
about what’s going to
residents from a care
happen, while facing the
home and this needs to be
prospect of 35 staff being
handled with the upmost care
made redundant.
JESS PHILLIPS
and dignity. Country Court Care
“To make matters worse the
MP against the move.
has to be aware that this isn’t just
company has now announced
a business, this is about peoples’
that it wants to remove all
homes, the place where they feel safe
part-time and flexible working. Heartlands
and secure.”
expects staff to work a full-time ‘three on,
GMB is not only
three off’ working pattern, irrespective of any
outraged by County
childcare or other caring commitments.
Court Care’s can’t-pay“GMB will continue to support its members
can’t-stay attitude to
through this process, but we have little
local authority funded
confidence in a company that treats both
residents, but is standing
residents and staff in this way.”
up for members who are
The company is to assess which patients
still wondering about
will be moved during the refurbishment and
their jobs. With more than half the
is consulting social services. While changes
residents moving, there is a lot of insecurity
are made at the home, GMB is watching what
for everyone at the home.
County Court Care does closely.

06 CENTRE POINT – GMB Birmingham and West Midlands

GMB25.Centre_Point_06_07.indd 6

14/06/2016 08:11

©iStock.com

“We have little
confidence in
this company”