MORE than 200 home-care workers employed by Herefordshire Council's social services fear for their jobs.

And they claim those they help in their own homes could suffer.

More than 50 staff met Hereford MP Paul Keetch who wants both sides to meet to clarify the situation.

Director of social services Sue Fiennes said if the council had failed to explain changes to staff sufficiently more effort would be made.

She confirmed the council plans to second its home care workers to a private care-provider, but the staff would remain council employees with their terms of employment.

They had no grounds for fearing for their jobs and the standard of service would not change. "There would be no point in changing if this was not so,'' she said.

Ms Fiennes said a pilot scheme in the Leominster area was proving successful. Council home-carers had been told individually in February about the new system and none had approached the department with their concerns.

Ms Fiennes said the changes would provide the best value and was necessary so more people could stay in their own homes longer.

Skills should be developed so carers also help rehabilitate clients. If a carer wanted to be involved in this they could apply for assessment and training.

Mr Keetch said this week he had met worried workers. "Although they do not in principle oppose change, they want to feel they are being consulted fully about where their jobs may go,'' he said.

"This seems a classic case where what the council might be suggesting may be all well and good, but the staff do not think their views are being listened to.

"I hope we can bring both sides together particularly for the good of the clients who rely on the service provided - these after all are the people that will feel the effects long-term," said Mr Keetch.