Eurobodalla council to scrap some care services, promises to support staff and clients during transition

Eurobodalla Shire Council is set to dump some of its care services.

Councillors discussed the proposal in a confidential part of its recent meeting.

When the meeting reopened to the public, Mayor Mathew Hatcher said the decision was unanimous.

The shift will see the council scrap its disability services, home care packages and seniors’ respite care by October, after operating them for more than three decades.

Some 148 clients and 75 staff (in full-time, part-time and casual roles) will be affected.

Director of community, arts and recreation Kathy Arthur said the decision had been driven by a combination of financial factors, regulation issues and industry changes.

“It’s external pressure on the business and the organisation. It’s not about the type of service or whether it’s good-quality service,” she said.

“It’s more about those external pressures pushing in [which] make it difficult [in the] longer term.”

Ms Arthur said clients were being notified through emails and letters, while workshops were being held to tell staff about the change.

The council’s community transport and individual and group social support programs will be unaffected and continue to operate.

The change is subject to confirmation that other providers can take on council clients, and that talks have been held with the relevant funding body about Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) financing.

An expression-of-interest process will be launched in the coming days as the council speaks with other providers about “their interest and their capacity” to take on the services.

“I’m confident that we will get a good response from that,” Ms Arthur said.

“We’ve already had some inquiries from the other providers who are interested in the situation.”

Before the closure occurs, the council also plans to carry out a staff consultation process and develop plans to support impacted workers and clients.

Ms Arthur said that would “not be an overnight process” as the council planned its exit from the services.

“No final decision’s been made, so all of that information has to be gathered,” she said.

“There will be continuity of service for all of the clients on our books.”

The decision follows an independent review of the council’s community care offerings and other providers in the region, and a financial appraisal.

“We needed something concrete,” Ms Arthur said.

“It was really helpful in that regard, [and] it was important to have that independence because I wanted that objective view on the services so we could make some really sensible, good decisions.”

In May, staff will provide a report to councillors about the outcomes of any actions taken.

Mayor Hatcher said there would be no immediate changes.

“We will continue to deliver services to our clients as normal for now,” he said.

“We want the community to be reassured that looking after our clients and staff is the priority. We will have a transition plan in place that ensures our clients will be well supported in making decisions about changing providers, and our staff will be supported to find other work.”