Brighton and Hove mental health workers strike over night shift row

Mental health workers in Brighton and Hove went on strike yesterday (Wednesday 24 September) in a dispute over night shifts.

Their union, Unison, said that the staff did not want to be on strike but faced having a night-time rota imposed on them which would be dangerous, unsafe and unfair.

Unison said that the approved mental health professionals who worked for Brighton and Hove City Council had worked a voluntary rota at night for years without any significant problems.

The staff, known by some as approved social workers, voted 63 per cent in favour of going on strike.

Unison said: “This decision is in response to the council’s threat to impose a contractual expectation that approved mental health professionals are available on a 24-hour basis to cover mental health emergencies.

“For many years, these staff have been part of a voluntary arrangement that has worked exceptionally well both for service users, who are often in crisis, and for the staff who have been able to ensure that the shifts they volunteered for did not place undue pressure on them in a job that is stressful at the best of times.

“Approved mental health professionals are a small group, 25 people in all, are highly trained and skilled at their work and provide a vital role in very difficult circumstances.

“The effect of a contractual rota would lead, at times, to staff working their normal day shift, called out on an emergency at night and having to work again the next day.

“As the decisions they are making are in relation to people who may be suicidal, a danger to themselves or others, it is very plain that staff need to be alert on all occasions.

“An error due to tiredness could have extreme consequences for all concerned – approved mental health professionals are personally liable for the decisions that they make.

“Discussions with council management have been ongoing for a long time and alternative suggestions have been made by staff and Unison.

“In particular, we have proposed the idea of a ‘shared service’ with West Sussex County Council to cover out of hours.

“‘Shared service’ is, of course, government policy so we have been somewhat at a loss to understand why officers are not prepared to consider this.

“With the council indicating that they will impose this unnecessary change to contracts, Unison members have been backed into a corner.”

Unison branch secretary Alex Knutsen said: “Our members feel forced into this action, hate the idea of leaving their service users to be dealt with by others, but are determined to do what they see as the right thing for the long-term health of the service.

“The employer should be under no illusions that if we have to take strike action and they do not seek a solution, then this will turn into a serious fight.

“Unison does not call out these members, especially in this area of work, unless we believe we are both right to do so and that we will be successful.”

The union said that staff worked with some of the most vulnerable people in the community who had mental health problems and often when their lives were in crisis.

It said that they were dedicated staff often working well beyond the hours for which they were paid.

The striking staff said: “What the council is proposing is unfair to our service users, to us and is potentially downright dangerous.

“We have worked a voluntary rota at night for many years without any significant problem.

“Now (the council) want to be able to force us to work when they wish, not when we know we are ‘safe’ to practice.

Unison added that if the dispute could not be resolved after the strike, it would consider a longer strike.