JANE Nash, from Christchurch, has been a home carer in Newport for 15 years, and now she fears for the future in a job she loves.

At 5am Jane gets up to arrange things for her daughter before leaving for work at 6.40am.

She said the first call would be at 7am, when she would usually get the client out of bed, wash them, dress them, get breakfast for them and make sure they were tidy, clean and comfortable, and then go off to the next call after 30 minutes.

The next call would be similar, with more washing, dressing, giving medication, making sure everything is clean and that they have had food. She said: "The calls throughout the day are very similar and we make sure that they can get to everything they need and everything is at hand."

On a typical Saturday and Sunday Ms Nash can make up to 18 visits. Six of them are calls to make sure people from earlier in the day have taken medication, are clean and comfortable and have had a hot meal and are safe.

After the 18 calls Ms Nash finishes a typical day at 3pm. She said: "I love my job but there is tremendous worry about what is going to happen in the future."

For Ms Nash, with an 18-year-old daughter with special needs, weekends and overtime are extremely important.

The difference between the new and old contracts could mean the difference of up to £400 a month for Ms Nash.

Strike is last resort

Newport's home carers have voted for strike action to discuss improvements to the changes to their pay and conditions.

In June Newport city council issued termination notices to all of its 250 home carers, taking them off their existing contracts that included enhancements for evening, night-time and weekend working.

The new contracts introduce new shift patterns and a consolidated rate of pay.

The proposed strike action is the last resort for the home carers, they say.