HUNDREDS of care workers are facing changes to their working conditions – including a risk of redundancy – as York’s Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust faces up to a "growing financial gap".

The housing association and care provider says it is conducting a review of its structures, income sources and services in the face of a "challenging external environment".

A spokeswoman said the trust, which runs four care homes in York - Red Lodge, Hartrigg Oaks, The Oaks and Lamel Beeches - and also has Independent Living Services based in York, providing care in people’s own homes, launched an internal consultation in February on changes to some terms and conditions.

She said it could not exclude the possibility of job losses but was hopeful other solutions would be found, and no final decisions had been made.

“There are 495 staff affected by the proposed changes which includes carers, care management, administration and catering staff at our care homes.

“Amongst this number, different staff are impacted in different ways, depending on their role.

"We need to make changes to ensure we are on a firm financial footing and can continue to offer excellent services to our residents, remaining viable and consistent for our residents in the long term.

“We are currently reviewing internal processes, structures and ways of working within care services to ensure that we’re operating in the most efficient way to deliver for our residents.

“This will increase consistency across our services, and in some cases increase our front-line capacity.”

The trust’s comments came after a person who said they were a carer looking after the elderly contacted The Press to say "loads of our jobs are going to be lost and everyone is going to get less money".

The person claimed: “Joseph Rowntree is against poverty and is pushing us who are the lowest paid workers into poverty.”

They added: “Everyone is scared. Please tell people what is happening, as we are not allowed to.”

The spokeswoman said the proposed changes would bring JRHT more in line with industry standards but it would still offer its staff a better and more competitive pay and benefits package than most other care providers, including paying them a real Living Wage.

She said the 90 day consultation closed in May and the trust would then finalise its plans based on the results.

“We recognise that this uncertainty is difficult for staff and are offering them appropriate support,” she said.

“The care our residents receive is paramount and we would like to reassure residents and their loved ones that we are working to ensure that care will not be adversely affected by any of the proposed changes.”

She added that any changes would be communicated to residents and families clearly.