STAFF at a children's special needs service are facing further 'uncertainty and instability' following Newport council's decision to defer leaving the regional collaboration.

Newport City Council has announced it is deferring a decision to leave the Sensory and Communication Support Unit (SenCom) until March, 2020.

But the head of the service, which supports children across the region with hearing, communication and visual needs, says the decision has now created even more uncertainty for staff.

Roger Thurlbeck, head of SencCom, said the service had already planned to lose 16 staff when they were informed of Newport council's decision to defer.

Speaking at a meeting of Monmouthshire council's children and young people select committee, he said staff knew who would be facing redundancy, who would be staying and who would be leaving for an 'equivalent' service which Newport council pledged to set up.

But the decision to defer has created "significant uncertainty again" for staff who do not know what the future holds, Mr Thurlbeck said.

"We are in a state of uncertainty and some instability as well," he said at the meeting on Thursday.

"My absence level of staff has gone up over the last week or so.

"I have six members of staff away at the moment, five of those are directly related to the changes in management process we face."

Mr Thurlbeck said it was vital the service is given "stability and clear guidance" on what the future holds.

READ MORE: Worries remain amid joy of Newport City Council 'deferring' SenCom decision

Newport council says it is working with the other Gwent authorities to review the SenCom service, to consider how it can be "improved or remodelled" to meet everyone's requirements.

Council leader, Cllr Debbie Wilcox, says the current model is "not providing the best possible service for young people in Newport."

Cllr Richard John, Monmouthshire's cabinet member for children and young people, said it was vital for clarity to be provided.

South Wales Argus:

Cllr Richard John

"While we are pleased to see Newport are rethinking their proposals, we are not out of the woods yet," he said.

"They have simply delayed for 12 months and I appreciate that brings even greater uncertainty to staff and the people who depend on this service."

Mr Thurlbeck said that if Newport had left, a structure would have been in place to maintain the current service provided.

But he said the longer term resilience of the service, and changes in staff personnel, would have had some impact.

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Martyn Groucutt, said the council would press for staff to be given certainty on their future.

"Staff have got to have that confidence that they are going to be in a job this time next year," he added.