Jobs to be axed in merger of services in Sandwell
Two services which help people with mental health issues into work are set to be restructured with the loss of a number of jobs.
Sandwell Council's In2Work and Mental Health Vocational Services are set to be merged in a plan to save the cash-strapped authority some extra money.
That will result in a number of staff positions being 'deleted', although it is not yet known how many jobs are at risk.
The council's decision-making cabinet yesterday afternoon gave their green light to move ahead with the scheme, and will now begin a 45-day consultation period with affected employees and unions.
A report submitted to the committee said that the two services, housed together in the Lyng Centre in West Bromwich were not delivering value for money when compared to national standards.
It reads: "Upon their establishment it was envisaged that the two services would operate in a co-ordinated and complementary manner.
"However, this has not been achieved and the customer journey is disjointed."
The services were originally jointly-funded between the council and the Primary Care Trust, but after the latter's abolishment the council took on sole responsibility.
It has since conducted a review of the services, and officers suggested the restructure.
Officers found that although the Mental Health Vocational Services' work is to support people into training courses, this 'has not translated into a significant throughput of people going on to successfully access employment'.
The report adds: "The proposed remodelled service builds on the strengths of the existing mainstream employment and skills service including partnerships with, and access to, external training providers."
It is not yet clear how much the council is set to save from the move, but it is expected that those whose jobs are at threat will first be sought employment elsewhere in the authority.
If that's not possible, then they would be made redundant.
The report also states that the service is not expected to be affected by the staffing cuts.
Sandwell Council is having to remodel frontline services to make savings of £120 million by 2016 following swingeing Government cuts to local authorities across the country.
Last month, hundreds of teenagers descended on its Oldbury council house to noisily voice their protest against a £5.3 million reduction to the youth service's budget, with a potential of 50 full-time equivalent posts being lost.
Sandwell Council has said it will work with schools and the voluntary and community sectors to help them deliver services wherever there is a need.
