BRADFORD Council has come in for criticism after announcing changes to home care.

The authority has awarded contracts to 28 organisations under a new "locality-based model" to provide home support across the area.

According to the council, around 2,600 residents across the Bradford district receive home care and the changes will have "significant benefits enabling people to receive support more quickly than at present".

But Anne-Marie Miles and Carol Jackson, managers at Bingley-based Bronte Care Services (BCS), confirmed its contract with Bradford Council was about to come to an end after nearly 20 years - and they have concerns for elderly and vulnerable people in the area.

Anne-Marie said the changes mean BCS will soon no longer be visiting the homes of over half its clients, who will instead be cared for by "bigger companies which were able to bid for contracts, unlike smaller businesses like ours".

She said a number of other local care providers were affected and added: "A lot of our staff are in tears over this.

"They've built up really important relationships with many of our service users - including vulnerable dementia sufferers - and their families over many years. They know them incredibly well.

"Now they're being taken away from us and our amazing care.

"We think it's an absolutely terrible move by the council."

She added: "One of our client's daughters phoned me obviously distressed.

"She was told that BCS doesn't meet the criteria to care for her dad - but we met the criteria for the last four years and received five good ratings after our recent Care Quality Commission inspection."

Carol added that "elderly and vulnerable people's choice is being taken away from them" as a result of the changes.

According to Anne-Marie and Carol, BCS decided not to apply for a new contract with Bradford Council earlier this year as they considered the tender process to be "unworkable".

They added: "It would not meet the cost involved in providing the basic minimum wage to staff - and with the current difficulty in recruiting new workers, we would have been overstretched which would have reduced the quality of our service.

"This decision did not come easily as we knew we would no longer be getting any work from the council, but it was still our decision."

A spokesperson for Bradford Council said: "Following extensive consultation with key partners in health and social care, and with people who currently use services and their families, Bradford Council is implementing a new locality-based model for home support. 

"Two providers have been appointed to each of the geographical areas. A total of 28 provider organisations will deliver home support in the Bradford district under this arrangement. The number of people in each locality receiving support will vary.

"The new model will have significant benefits enabling people to receive support more quickly than at present, including those people awaiting discharge from hospital, and promoting more flexible care delivery. It will also bring benefits for staff delivering home support including more stable hours and opportunities to develop their skills and experience.

"Approximately 2,600 people across the Bradford district receive home support and these changes have been carefully planned. We are working with service providers and organisations, such as Bradford Care Association, to implement these changes and ensure the transfer of people’s care, and transfer of staff between providers, is well co-ordinated.

"For some people this will not result in a change of organisation or in staff providing support to them. However, we have written to everyone receiving a service who is affected informing them of the change and ensuring they are aware of the support available to them, and that they can contact us should they have any queries or concerns.

"We know a change in support arrangements can be a difficult for some people and we have made resources available to help ensure the transition to the new arrangements is as smooth as possible."

The T&A has seen a 'frequently asked questions' document put together by the council about the changes.

It states: "The council has to have a contract with organisations that provide services on its behalf.

"We need to make sure that these are of the highest quality and provide good value for money."