Competitive tender plans spark concern among carers
Carers in Glasgow are looking for assurances after it was revealed the city council is to put support services out to competitive tender.
They are worried that contracts held by third sector groups will fall into private hands as a result of the process.
Six centres across the city are affected – and staff say their services prevent the carers reaching crisis prevent costly interventions from the council.
Claire Cairns of the Coalition of Carers in Scotland said: "Carers are devastated at the news that their local support services are potentially under threat.
"These centres have been providing support to carers for many years and they are an important part of their local communities.
Glasgow has yet to give a satisfactory answer as to why it has decided to put these services out to competitive tender
"Carers trust them and rely on the services they provide.
"Glasgow has yet to give a satisfactory answer as to why it has decided to put these services out to competitive tender."
However, the local authority moved to reassure carers that the move was purely procedural.
A city council spokesman said: “The council’s internal audit team indicated in 2013 that contracts for carers’ services should be subject to competitive tendering to ensure compliance with rules at council, national and European level.
“Training to help those who manage carer centres understand the new tendering process is available through our Corporate Procurement Unit.
“We have gathered a wealth of evidence in recent years which shows that the services we are tendering for are well-received by carers in the city.
“Carers will continue to have access to excellent carer services following the tender and we are confident their current providers will be well-placed to submit quality bids.”
The centres affected are theSouth West Carers Centre on Paisley Road West, the South East Carers Centre on Cathcart Road, the West Carers Centre in Anniesland, the North West Carers Centre in Maryhill, the North East Carers Centre in Easterhouse and the East End carers centre in Tollcross.
