STAFF working at three respite care centres in Cheshire, including one in Northwich, have launched a campaign to save them from closure.

The employees, who work at Curzon House in Chester, Sutton Beeches in Ellesmere Port and Leftwich Green in Northwich are calling on Cheshire West and Chester Council to re-consider plans to close the three facilities, saying it would be a disaster for service users and the wider community they serve.

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An online petition has already received more than 30,000 signatures, with staff saying the decision would also having a devastating impact on the lives of those who will lose their jobs.

A spokesman for the staff said: "Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) has proposed to close all three respite care centres, which would be a disaster for our service users, for the local community and for ourselves as care workers.

"The threat of closure of these three vital community services has created a lot of uncertainty for the service users with regards to their personal care needs.

"The service offers a person-centred approach with the service user at the forefront, ensuring their individual needs are met.

"We have highly trained staff with good skills and knowledge base to meet the service users individual needs in accordance with their care plan and risk assessment.

"It will have a detrimental affect on the community we provide care for if we are forced to shut the doors of this vital service.

"As staff, we are worried about the financial implications that losing our jobs will have on ourselves, our families, our mental health and wellbeing.

"We are scared that losing our jobs will plunge us into poverty - this feels like a kick in the teeth after all the stress and pressure we have been under during the pandemic.

"We feel like forgotten heroes on the front-line, it feels like no-one cares about us."

One respite care worker, who is based at Sutton Beeches said how they had worked at the centre since they were a teenager.

They said: "Everyone there are like my family and it would be a huge void in my life if the centre was to close.

"I would hate to have to look for another job now as I am close to retirement age.

"This is the only job l have ever liked, it would be very depressing for me."

One of the service users added: "The reason I wouldn’t like the centre to close is because as a 60 year old disabled woman, I live locally with my husband who looks after me.

"He is also 60 years old and the thought of the centre closing makes me shudder to think my husband couldn’t have a break from looking after me if he couldn’t cope."

The spokesman for the staff went on to say: "We are calling for CWAC to undertake a full review of local respite care provision which should be subject to a full public consultation.

"The views of service users, local people and health workers must be heard.

"There is so much that the three care centres can offer the community going forward and the last thing service users need is to be displaced.

"Please show your support and sign this petition to keep the respite care centres open."

The campaign also has the backing of two MPs, with Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale saying: “Any proposed permanent closure of facilities in my constituency concerns me. 

"I will be listening to service users, local residents and staff, putting their interests first. 

"Just last week in Parliament I raised the urgent need to tackle our social care crisis; the Government has yet to come up with a plan some 11 years since they came to power."

Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston said: "I do not want to see Sutton Beeches closed and believe that the Council should look again at ways to keep this much loved facility open."

A link to the petition can be found HERE.