“If they now have a stranger coming into their home, it’s a major, major impact on people,” he said.
“It’s very personal work. It could be ensuring they’ve actually eaten something that day because people if they’re living with dementia can forget, so it makes a real difference.
“You need to trust the person.”
Health NZ have not named who will be taking over the new contracts and said they were unable to comment on individual proposals or assessments because of “commercial and contractual obligations”.
Health NZ regional planning, funding & outcomes director Northern Region Danny Wu said changes to Home and Community Support Services across the Northern region were part of a national transition.
Previous changes were made to the South Island’s home care services contracts.
The new restorative service model was based on evidence that demonstrated “improved outcomes for people”, Wu said.
“We acknowledge that some longstanding providers were not successful through this process and recognise this will be disappointing for those organisations, their staff and the people they support,” he said.
“Existing services will continue, and no service transitions are expected to begin before March 2027.
“Health New Zealand is working closely with providers to support planning for a smooth transition and minimise disruption for the people who rely on these services.”
Greaves said the news had come out of nowhere and they had been given no information by Health NZ about why their bid for the new contract was unsuccessful.
The decision was broken to them on Wednesday this week through a final letter sent by Health NZ informing them that the transition would take place in March next year.
Greaves said when he told his support staff and clinical staff at the office they were crying and heartbroken, with many fearing how they would cope with cost-of-living pressures and being told this news only a few months ahead of Christmas.
He said many felt “sick and upset” by the outcome, with one support worker expressing that she was worried about how she could find another job at her older age.
Wu said they would work with successful providers to retain the workforce, including people currently working for unsuccessful providers.
“Our priority is ensuring continuity of care for clients.”
E tū union director Amy Hansen said she understood the workers likely would be offered new jobs by whoever held the new contract, however she wanted to ensure their pay and conditions would be maintained when they transferred to a new employer.
“As far as we’re concerned people will have jobs if they want them, but whether they will be on the same pay and conditions is what we are concerned about – there’s a lot of uncertainty at the moment.
“I suppose the controversial thing about the Auckland changes is that there are so many more employers and there’s less winners. Whereas in the regions there were fewer employers out there who were doing the work.”
Changes made to the South Island’s home care services last year saw four providers contracted to provide the new model.
PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said workers needed assurance from Health New Zealand that their jobs would be transferred to the new providers on the same terms and conditions.
“Health New Zealand must guarantee that every one of these workers, both frontline carers and the nurses and coordinators who support them, transfers to whoever takes over these contracts, on the same pay, terms and conditions,” Fitzsimons said.
“These workers have built special, trusted relationships with the older and disabled people they support, often over many years. Taking that away puts continuity of care, and the wellbeing of thousands of vulnerable New Zealanders, directly at risk.”
The Ministerial Advisory Group recently released its final report A Place to Grow Old: Securing the Future of Aged Care into independent aged care and found 40 recommendations, which included strengthening home and community support services and enabling more older New Zealanders to remain independent in their homes for longer.
Greaves said this Health NZ’s decision went in the opposite direction to the report and risked dismantling trusted services that had been built up over decades.
Hansen said she wanted home support workers to have better protection under legislation when their contracts did change, which was another recommendation made by the report.
Wu said while all applicants had been advised of the outcome of the procurement process, final arrangements were still being put in place.
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