Another case of Croydon Labour simply not listening...
29/01/2018 22:05:00.......Posted by Scott Roche
I submitted a question for council this evening on behalf of the most vulnerable residents within our borough, and individuals who do not feel as if they have the relevant support network to raise a concern they have with their care. Which could potentially lead to vulnerable members of our community not receiving the quality of care from the council they deserve, my concern is especially for residents who do not have the family or friends network to help them when they need it most. This is from my personal experience of endless problems my mum experienced with her carers, and the contractors responsible for the service provided by the council. My mum has been disabled for many years, and relies on Croydon carers daily; as a result, she “doesn’t want to cause a fuss". Even though she had received repeated instances of poor care from the carer contractors employed by the council, she did not want to report the issues. She felt vulnerable, and concerned of the potential risk from a carer retaliating, without my mum being able to protect herself due to her disability. Each complaint raised about my concerns, was with the relevant department in the council, I have received feedback from the relevant council officer, with the promise that the standard of care will be improved with the new contractor offered to my mum. Over the years, my mum has gone through several carer contractors, some better than others for various reasons, but I felt that now was the time to raise my concern directly to the council, addressed to the labour cabinet member for Families, Health & Social Care: Louisa Woodley. My question to her was: "Why, and how Croydon Council, allow such poor carer contractors to be allowed to look after some of the most vulnerable in our borough? What is the Councils procedure for checking the quality and reputation of a contractor, before they are allowed to look after residents? I am genuinely concerned for those individuals who do not have the network of people to stand up for them, and make sure the carers and the contractors are held accountable for the consistent poor care given" I was very shocked to hear Louisa Woodley's response to my question in council: My concerns were brushed under the carpet, Cllr Woodley claiming that no such issue exists within the council, she also said to me "I am surprised Mr Roche, has allowed it to get to the stage, where he feels the need to raise it me in council, rather than contacting me directly via email", an absolutely shocking attitude to have towards such a sensitive issue! I have reported all instances directly to the council, which are all recorded on the council complaints system, with an individual reference number given for each complaint raised. The cabinet member clearly does not have a grasp on such an important department, if she was completely unaware of my previous complaints to a department she is overseeing in her role as cabinet member! My concern of what safeguarding procedures the council has is in place, for vulnerable members of the community, who might feel intimidated or worried to raise a concern was not answered and ignored by Labour's Cllr Woodley. The Labour Council just do not listen to residents, no matter how much they claim they do! I am concerned that with such a vital department, that looks after some of the most vulnerable members of our community, the labour party do not listen or seem to care when repeated concerns are raised, and cannot be trusted with the huge responsibility. The residents of Croydon deserve better!
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