The company running a north-east care home that is on the brink of closure has come under fire from a senior member of staff over its handling of the business.
Renaissance Care announced last week that Glenesk House was no longer profitable due to soaring agency fees, but it has now been claimed that management gave priority to agency workers over permanent staff.
It is understood a takeover deal for the Turriff facility collapsed earlier this month.
The home is now set to shut imminently, despite assurances to the contrary that staff have said they were given.
The row has broken out as it emerged that a sheltered housing complex in the town that is due for demolition will not be replaced with accommodation for elderly people but instead by council housing.
Staff at Glenesk have described what has been termed the failings of Renaissance that have left more than 20 residents seeking new accommodation, and 40 staff potentially out of work.
An experienced care home worker from the home, who did not wish to be named, said: “Staff read what Renaissance had to say and were shocked.
“They’re giving up on this home far too easy.
“One week they told us our jobs were safe, a week later they’re shutting the home.
“They’re all too quick to blame the staff and the location but the home hasn’t moved any place, it’s still where it’s been for over 25 years.
“As for the agency staff, well the permanent staff aren’t able to pick up any overtime shifts because the management put them out to agency staff first.
“The permanent staff are working around the agency staff but no one’s listening to us – Renaissance don’t want to know.”
The care worker – who said at least one of her colleague’s had been referred to a GP as a result of stress caused by the closure – claimed that some agency staff are earning more than £17 per hour at Glenesk.
In comparison, she earns less than £9 for overtime.
But her concerns went beyond the impact on her own finances.
She added: “There are residents moving out this week.
“They were told they had to get out – the management said they had to be out ASAP because they want to get the place shut.
“A lot of residents don’t have families to speak up for them.
“There’s one resident who’s been in there 18 years. She was very young when she went in and she doesn’t have any family to help her.
“She’s from this area and they’re wanting to put her down to Dundee. She’s no family to speak up for her. We’re all worried sick about it.”
The allegations facing Renaissance, come as the Care Inspectorate and officers from Aberdeenshire Council have stepped in to help support families.
The Edinburgh-based firm has condemned the comments of the Glenesk worker as “horrid” and “damaging to residents and their families”.
A spokesman for Glenesk said: “We utterly refute these allegations.
“Every single resident has been allocated a local authority case worker and we are working very closely with the council to ensure the best alternative is found for every resident.
“As we’ve said all along, residents’ security and wellbeing is the first priority and no deadline has been set for completion of this process.”
Last night, local councillor Anne Robertson said the problems at Glenesk had been “bubbling under for some time”.
Mrs Robertson said: “I attended a meeting with the families and staff last week because I’d been contacted by families with concerns.
“The decision to close is clearly a Renaissance business decision.
“But the council has been proactive – as soon as the company gave notice of the closure care teams contacted the residents and families.
“There is a willingness from everyone to find the most appropriate places for the residents.
“But it is a distressing time for families and residents. Change in these circumstances is never good.”
Mrs Robertson, a member of the local authority’s social working and housing committee, said she understood Renaissance is working with employees to help find new jobs in the area.