Jewish Care jobs at risk of redundancy due to the pandemic

Most of the jobs at Jewish Care’s nine community centres are at risk of redundancy with the organisation facing an estimated hit of £7million to its funds by the end of March 2021 due to the pandemic.

During what Jewish Care called an “incredibly challenging” time, the UK’s largest Jewish health and social care organisation expanded its meals on wheels provision and the digital services available to the community. 

However, under the new coronavirus rules, without being able to return to community centres, day centres and centres for people living with dementia, they have been “forced” to reassess and are having to make almost 100 staff redundant. 

Jewish Care said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision for us to make, and we have not taken it lightly.

“The wellbeing of our clients will always be a priority, and despite there being some changes to staffing structures, we will ensure that the vital services we have been able to provide including regular calls to clients are maintained and the needs of those we look after, continue to be met through our outreach and digital programmes, befriending and meals on wheels services.”

Staff at all nine Jewish Care centres will be facing redundancy but will be offered redeployment interviews for alternative roles. 

Jonathan Zenios, chair of Jewish Care, said the charity envisaged a “virtual community centre” to sit alongside its real centres when they can eventually reopen.