New jobs as Council attracts national care provider to city

160 new jobs could be created as a new care company moves into Plymouth.

The Council has awarded the Human Support Group a contract for reablement services in the city, bringing the company into the region. The Human Support Group intends to open a flagship operation for the south west in Plymouth. It will take on the reablement team currently employed by the Council and plans to recruit more staff locally, predicting a potential 160 new jobs being created within the first 18 months.

Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet member for Public Health and Adult Social Care said: “This is great news for the city. We’ve managed to attract a national company with a solid track record in delivering care services. They’re investing in Plymouth and planning to establish a regional base of operations here which will mean more job opportunities for local people as well as guaranteed hours for Council staff that are transferring over to them.”

The Human Support Group was established in 1998 and specialises in providing support to people in their own homes. It employs 900 people nationwide and also operates a charity aimed at tackling social isolation.

The expected 160 new jobs in Plymouth will include managerial and domiciliary care posts, support roles and staff to develop the care services throughout the south west.

Daniel O’Donoghue, Managing Director of the Human Support Group said: “Having been awarded the contract to run the reablement service in Plymouth, we are now looking forward to many things. Firstly, we are keen to meet our new team, to tell them of the plans we have, to ask for their input to grow and improve the service and to ease any anxieties that they may have of transferring to a new employer. We will also be targeting local jobseekers so that they become aware of the opportunities we will have and the training that they will be able to access.

“With no previous presence in the south west, we will be quickly establishing our Plymouth base as a hub to roll out services across the region. We always seek to work in partnership with innovative councils and we have been encouraged by the approach taken by Plymouth CC to date and have confidence in our own track record of delivering a meaningful reablement service.”

The Human Support Group will be responsible for helping people regain their mobility and independence after illness or injury. This reablement service supports people as they re-learn basic skills and build their confidence to undertake daily tasks. It helps prevent people being admitted to hospital or care homes and speeds up discharge from hospital as people can go home with the necessary support. The Council currently spends £2 million a year on reablement services.

The new contract begins on 1 December 2013.

The Council’s reablement team will transfer to the Human Support Group under a TUPE agreement with guaranteed hours. 81 people are currently on the transfer list. The Human Support Group has said it intends to protect employment contracts, pensions, training and hours worked.