CARE provider Catalyst Choices has responded after being condemned over plans to cut staff pay and working conditions by Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols.

Ms Nichols was joined by 22 Warrington councillors in writing to the private firm, which has been providing care services for Warrington Borough Council since 2015.

It came after it was revealed new contracts proposed by Catalyst would include cuts to sick pay, overtime, bank holiday pay and redundancy payments, leaving some staff almost £2,000 worse off per year.

Ms Nichols said: “This dedicated group of care workers provide top quality care for elderly and vulnerable people in Warrington.

“They are the hidden heroes of our community.

“If anything, these devoted and knowledgeable care workers deserve a substantial pay rise – the last thing they need is a substantial cut to their pay and conditions.

“I strongly urge Catalyst’s management to reconsider their plans.”

Cllr Amanda King says the company is already failing to recruit new staff and to cut wages now is ‘deeply irresponsible’.

She said: “We need to protect high quality care for our loved ones, not put it further at risk.”

The council has previously demonstrated a commitment to ethical social care provision.

The local authority’s adult social care market position statement states: “As a council, we are supportive of the UNISON ethical care charter and a fair deal for care staff.”

Catalyst said, through its staff forum, it has undertaken a lengthy consultation with employees to understand how it can remain competitive in the market place, while ensuring that it recruits and retains high quality staff, along with offering equitable and attractive terms and conditions.

A spokesman added: “Catalyst Choices is an employee-owned, not for profit social enterprise.

“A final position has been agreed by 70 per cent of employees which will see adjustments to enhancements and sick pay, but will not cut basic pay, thereby ensuring a better overall position for the whole organisation and our employee owners.

“It is regrettable that we have not been contacted directly to discuss these concerns.

“We welcome the opportunity to discuss anything that will benefit the future of our organisation, our employee owners and of course our service users.”