Company denies stopping expenses for Sheffield carers when they take disabled people out for tea and cake

Andy Hiles, general secretary of the National Union of Care Workers, told a scrutiny meeting that care company Citizenship First would no longer pay the expenses from April.

Citizenship First, which provides carers for people with learning disabilities, said this was “untrue and unfounded”. It says it values staff and always pays appropriate and legitimate business expenses.

Mr Hiles told the meeting: “The council has Citizenship First carers to do a lot of work. There are certain situations where the care workers will take people out to try to socialise them in the community and get them out of their house.

“They take them in the city centre for a meal or a drink and at the moment, the carer can claim back this cost, as they should do.

“The company is no longer going to reimburse them and the carer will have to pay for their coffee or the person they are providing care for will have to pay. The advice is that the service user should buy the meal.

“It’s a fiver for a coffee and sandwich and we are talking about people on Universal Credit and PIP payments being asked to pay up to £10 for a coffee and cake for themselves and their carer.

“This is a legitimate expense that carers should be able to claim back. “

Citizenship First said its policy on expenses was in line with both industry practice and the requirements of its contracts with Sheffield Council.

A spokesman said: “There have been no formal complaints or grievances from any of our staff on this matter.

“We are extremely surprised therefore, to learn of unfounded and untrue comments and allegations being made in an open council meeting, and particularly, by someone who not only doesn’t work for us, but with whom we have no relationship.”

He added that Citizenship First acts within the law and in line with statutory regulations, contracts with commissioners, regulatory bodies and contracts of employment.