Carers in Surrey face an uncertain future after the consolidation of services across the county into four offices was confirmed by councillors last week.

Surrey County Council awarded the contract for independent carers support services and home-based breaks for carers to Action for Carers Surrey in November because it could no longer afford to maintain the council-run services.

Councillors called the decision in for scrutiny, but the Social Care Services Board award upheld the decision to award the services to Action for Carers Surrey.

This would mean the closure of nine offices from which carer support is organised in Surrey.

A council officer stated that tendering out the carers’ services would save “an estimated £38.8 million”.

From December: Surrey County Council forced to dip into 'largest ever use of reserves' to address £15 million overspend

The rising cost and demand for adult social care, children’s services, and school places in Surrey has caused the council to blow its budget by £15 million this year, it emerged last month.

From September: Poorest to be 'seriously impacted' by changes to Surrey County Council's adult social care service charges

From November: Surrey County Council turns down 80 per cent of social care request due to 'huge financial strain'

Under the new contract, the existing 24 arrangements for carers in Surrey would come to an end on March 31, 2017.

Provision of independent carers support across the county will be carved up into four geographical lots with services being consolidated into one centre in each, from April 1, 2017.

A county council spokesman said the contract would ensure the “highest quality” of services provided to those needing care while keeping down costs.

But Shaun Jones, a trustee and public secretary at Carers of Epsom, currently based in Epsom Town Hall, admitted there was uncertainty about the organisation’s future from April 1, 2017 onwards.

“There will be a base in Elmbridge, Mole Valley or Epsom and Ewell, but we don’t know which one it will be,” he said.

“We will still be around for a while, but we are considering our future. That will be decided over the next few months.”

Carers of Epsom, like other groups across Surrey, support carers with emotional support, and put them in contact with one another, and provide people with information about local services.

Mr Jones added: “We will be working very hard with Action for Carers Surrey to ensure there is a seamless transition.

“We are determined to make the whole thing work for carers.”

Surrey County Councillor for Epsom and Ewell, Eber Kington, said the Board hoped to find out whether the new service was going to be any better and what would happen to existing volunteers.

Cllr Kington added: “I want the people who use the service to get a better service.”

A county council spokesman said: “This contract ensures the standard of service is of the highest quality and reaches across the whole of Surrey while also managing to keep costs down at a time when our budgets are being squeezed by unprecedented demand for our services such as adult social care.”

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