Salford City UNISON, the trade union representing staff at The Grange, the city's only residential home for disabled children, has written to the Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, and an array of councillors questioning the potential cost of shutting down the facility.
In August, to shouts of 'traitor' and 'shame', Dennett made the decision to close The Grange in order to save £300,000*. The justification was that there was 'no demand' for the service, with only two children resident at the five bed facility. UNISON countered that this just wasn't true...
"The so called lack of demand for The Grange is a lie to justify a cut, and even worse the privatisation of all residential care for disabled children from Salford" the union stated adding that it "conveniently hides the fact that Children Services management have refused to place any child at The Grange since last year because the resource is at risk of closure!"**
In the latest email to the Mayor, seen by the Salford Star, UNISON questions the huge cost of moving children outside the borough...
"This week The Grange was visited by a children's home who say they would have received referrals for both residents from the Grange" the email states "The suggested cost would be £250,000 per young person.
"They also stated they already had a young person recently placed with them who would have been suitable at the Grange" it adds "Those three placements alone will be higher than the cost of keeping the Grange open.
"To add insult to injury the Manager explained that they couldn't take anyone immediately because they didn't have enough staff and proceeded to hand out leaflets for an open day" it explains "They even suggested that all staff should transfer to them and they could open a new home! So much for no demand!
"Suffice to say staff were not interested and were further disappointed about how the Council have dealt with a home that they love" the email concludes.
Meanwhile, lawyers from Irwin Mitchell have filed papers for a judicial review into the closure and are currently waiting for a judge's decision on whether they have permission to go ahead to a full hearing...
See previous related Salford Star articles...
*Shouts of 'Traitor' As Salford Labour Mayor Shuts Disabled Children's Home – click here
**UNISON Accuses Salford Council of Lying To Justify Shutting Disabled Kids Home – click here
Application for Judicial Review Lodged Against Salford Council In Bid To Save the Grange – click here