UNISON members at Central Hill Day Centre are voting for strike action to save jobs and prevent the local specialist dementia service from closing.

Lambeth Council has announced cost saving plans to close the Day Centre and have a reduced service at Aspire, a nearby organisation that currently works with adults with learning difficulties. 

The current team of staff that specialise in dementia care will lose 10 posts and the remaining staff will be reallocated to a single room at Aspire. 

Staff, carers and UNISON do not believe that this is a proposal that delivers for people with dementia in Lambeth.  The Day Centre is the only specialist dementia service the Council provides – in a borough with an ageing population where instances of dementia are likely to increase. 

Management claim that there is reduced need for the service because they imposed an 18 month review which saw people living with dementia signposted elsewhere even when they would have benefited from the day centres expert care.  

The Council’s position that there is a reduced demand for dementia services is ridiculous and primarily driven by cost saving demands. 

UNISON joint branch secretary Simon Hannah said “this is an essential service that has been cynically run down by the council over the last 2 years and now faces closure.  Lambeth is failing in its duty of care to people with dementia and their families. Staff and the local community will fight this all the way. We are calling on the council to do what is right, stop the closure and properly resource this service.”

The ballot will run throughout April just as Labour councillors are seeking election for Council seats.