CARE services will struggle to recruit suitable workers if cuts to pay and holiday days for staff go through, a union has warned.

Unison spoke out after Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust moved to change terms and conditions for 548 county employees.

The trust refused to provide details, but the Oxford Mail has seen letters to staff proposing an end to extra pay for weekend, evening and night shifts.

It also put forward cutting holiday to 22 days a year – 25 days after three years’ service – for workers who support people in their homes.

Unison Oxfordshire spokesman Ian McKendrick said: “People don’t like working nights so I think the employer will have a lot of trouble finding people. It is a 24/7 service.

“Some people are looking at losing up to £400 a month. That is a very substantial cut.”

The trust won a contract to take over the service from Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust – also known as the Ridgeway Partnership – in November. It covers Oxfordshire and four southern counties.

The contract is run through its TQtwentyone arm. Spokesman Emma McKinney did not give specific details but said negotiations were continuing.

She added: “We find ourselves in a situation where our income doesn’t match our expenditure and that poses a serious risk to the sustainability of our service.”