New rota system sparks concern among workers

Care staff highlight issues with system

- ELINA KOBZAR

A new rota system for home care workers in East Ayrshire is driving the service to the brink of crisis, staff warn.

Workers have told how challenging shifts have become almost impossible since the introduction of the system driven by artificial intelligence.

GMB Scotland polled care workers with 82 per cent claiming the schedules delivered by Totalmobile are not allowing enough time for visits and risking crucial care for vulnerable clients.

Staff claim the system does not allocate any time to walk between homes in the same postcode and, on at least one occasion, sent three care workers to the same home at the same time.

The union, one of the biggest in the public sector, has lodged a formal grievance with East Ayrshire Council and is urging the local authority to pause the use of the software to explore the issues raised by staff claiming it is making their jobs unworkable, increasing stress, and sabotaging standards.

One home care worker told the union she was at breaking point.

She added: "We thought things were bad before but this new system feels like the tipping point.

"It cannot go on like this. The pressure is too much. We are rushing about from visit to visit in dread of making a mistake because we are so frantic.

"We are constantly watching the clock and racing to make our next visit. Someone will end up having an accident or a heart attack."