HOME care providers in Notts are in crisis after the county council announced a major shake-up.
Bosses say they fear hundreds of jobs could be lost and their companies forced out of business as the changes take hold.
A total of 30 independent care companies currently have contracts to provide home care services for Notts County Council.
But, following a review, the authority is planning to reduce that to six companies – each of which must have an annual turnover of at least £4.5 million.
The council currently spends £15.24 million a year on home care for 2,750 adults.
It said the changes would not result in savings but would provide a more "consistent and effective service".
However, bosses at three of the companies affected have come forward to say the shake-up could threaten their businesses and the livelihoods of hundreds of people.
One of them, from a care company working in south Notts, said the plans would have a "catastrophic effect on the industry".
The director, who asked to remain anonymous due to a gagging clause in his contract with the council, employs around 50 people.
"It will potentially put a lot of providers like ourselves out of business," he said.
"A lot of businesses like mine rely on these contracts. It's putting companies and people out of work who have worked with the council for a number of years."
He added: "Jobs are at risk as well – we're talking about hundreds of people."
He also said the changes could have an impact on service users.
"People aren't getting community care or one-to-one personal service," he added.
"It's an absolutely abhorrent decision."
A director of a company in north Notts said: "It's disgraceful. I've been working with them for years and it's a total, total disgrace the way they have treated people.
"Businesses will go to the wall because they can't tender."
The council said it would do its utmost to transfer staff to successful companies – and that the current, smaller companies could work together as a conglomerate.
But one director rejected the idea, saying: "It's a massive undertaking for small companies to form a consortium.
"Our workers might not want to be transferred. It's forcing small companies out of business – it's threatening people's jobs."
Caroline Baria, service director for the council, said: "Over the past two years, we have reviewed the way home care services are provided in Nottinghamshire to explore how best we can continue to meet people's care needs.
"We researched a number of options and found that by reducing the number of home care agencies across the county and replacing with single organisations providing services in specific parts of the county, we could provide a more consistent and effective service."
Are you affected by the shake-up? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampost.com.
