Services provided to those
with disabilities may be radically changed because of the
agreement to pay the minimum wage to night carers, the head
of a Dunedin community care provider says.
Corstorphine Community Baptist Trust chief executive Wendy
Halsey said paying night carers the minimum wage could
presage a move towards more institutional care, rather than
the community-centred houses now favoured.
No-one appeared to have consulted those most affected by any
changes - the service users.
She supported workers being paid more, but the decision would
have greater flow-on effects than people realised, and would
not be positive for those in care.
"Services may move away from the way it's been provided and
develop new ways which avoid lots of sleepovers," Ms Halsey
said.
The legislation, promised before the election, was urgently
needed to confirm and clarify what community care providers
would pay, and which providers were eligible for $117 million
the Government would provide for increased wages and
back-pay, Ms Halsey said.
The Government and IHC service provider arm, Idea Services,
have withdrawn a Supreme Court appeal after reaching a deal
with unions.
Community employers were "piggy in the middle" at present,
and faced negotiating care contracts in a period of
uncertainty.
The trust had no extra money for backpay, Ms Halsey said.
Contracts with DHBs had been negotiated based on the
conditions of the time, so it was far from clear the
providers had responsibility for back-pay.
Southern District Health Board funding and finance general
manager Robert Mackway-Jones said the additional wage costs
were going to pose "great difficulties" for some providers.
However, it was positive the Government was stepping in to
pay half of the extra cost.
- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
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