Wolverhampton day care workers told jobs are safe
Workers at a Wolverhampton care centre have been assured their jobs are safe despite plans to relocate its services.
There is a scheme in the pipeline to close down and sell off Oxley Day Centre in Probert Road, with its care services sent to other venues across the city.
A decision will not be made on that plan until October but council bosses have moved to reassure workers their jobs will be safe whatever happens.
There are around 25 staff members at the day centre. It was originally thought up to 89 jobs would be affected.
Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton council's cabinet member for adults, said: "These proposals have been put forward to help meet the council's duties under the new Care Act, which require councils to give people greater control over the services they use and offer services with provide the sort of help and support people need to remain independent for longer.
"Under these proposals, we are seeking to re-provide the Support Plus service currently provided at Oxley Day Centre at other venues around the city.
"Oxley Day Centre is an old-style centre and no longer fit for purpose, and so the Support Plus service would be transferred to newer, more modern venues around the city, such as Action for Independence, the Brickkiln Centre, Neil Dougherty Centre, Pendeford Community Hub and Blakenhall Healthy Living Centre.
"We have a duty as a council and are very mindful that many of these service users are elderly and vulnerable.
"They deserve the best care and facilities they can possibly have so we are one hundred percent committed to plan for a better service and staff currently based at Oxley Day Centre would be relocated to provide the new services at other locations in the community."
The final proposals will be presented to decision-making Cabinet on October 21.
