A ROW has erupted over apprenticeships being offered by Southend Council in its care homes.

The council launched the scheme in conjunction with Southend Adult Community College in Ambleside Drive, Southend.

Up to ten health and social care apprenticeships are currently available in homes such as Priory House in Westcliff.

They are paid throughout their apprenticeship and receive training and mentorship from experts in the care industry, but Southend Ukip says the wage of just £150 a week isn’t acceptable and the group may withdraw support for council plans to create a local authority trading company, Southend Care, to take over the running of its care homes.

The scheme will see the creation of a social care campus on the site of the existing Priory House, in Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff, and will include a 60-bed dementia home.

Ukip’s David McGlone, councillor for St Laurence ward, said: “We may withhold support for plans the council have for these homes run by an arm’s length trading company, if these are the sort of rates of pay they consider acceptable.

“We need responsible people doing these jobs and if they are being exploited with these ridiculously low rates, then we need to do something about it.”

Floyd Waterworth, Ukip councillor for Blenheim Park, added: “What is being paid are slave wages, particularly for the type of work being done.”

Southend Council said the apprentices would spend some of their 37.5 hour week time in college.

Lesley Salter, councillor for adult social care, said: “It is very disappointing to see these comments being made. Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to gain experience in a job, gain a qualification and be paid for it at the same time. I find the suggestion that apprentices are irresponsible insulting and the suggestion that we would be exploiting these young people equally offensive.

“The ten apprenticeships we are looking to provide in partnership with the adult community college will in fact be providing a wonderful opportunity for local people who are interested in social care as a potential career, giving them a foot in the door, and some great chances to gain experience and learn. In addition, it is worth highlighting that we pay well above the national minimum wage for apprentices and subject to progress, pay goes up after 20 weeks.”