THE last remaining care workers at Blackpool's council-run homes have been dealt another series of blows in their few remaining days at work.

A e-mailed memo has been pinned up on the notice board in some of the homes ordering staff not to bring ex-members of staff to their Christmas parties and reminding them not to drink alcohol.

One member of staff said: "This is a total insult to our professionalism. I have been caring for these people for years now and there is no way any of the staff would be getting drunk on duty. We are all professional carers, we don't need to be told this.

"At the end of the memo it said 'Merry Christmas'. I feel totally insulted, used and worthless by it all."

Social services have also kept staff waiting to hear whether they have been successful in their interviews for various posts in the remaining four homes. They were told to produce a personal profile and many of the staff spent their evenings compiling information they thought would help get them jobs.

But social services then told applicants their profiles would not be used and they would be selected for the job on their interview performance alone. They even told one person his profile had been lost.

Applicants were promised they would hear from social services on December 6 but that day came and went without news. They were then told it would be December 8 but again they heard nothing. Applicants were given another date of December 5 and yesterday they still had not been contacted. "It is ridiculous," claimed one care worker. "Our lives are on hold until we find out whether or not we have jobs. It is so unfair that they can do this to us. They just don't seem to care.

"With Christmas coming up we just don't know what the future holds. It is very stressful," she said.

Social services assistant director of community care Pamela Jones explained the delay was due to the very complex nature of the interviews. She said: "We sent out the first question we were going to ask the applicants so they would feel a little more relaxed at the interview.

"I read all the profile forms with interest but we decided not to take them into account.

"The interviews were very serious and very professional. The feedback I have had is that people have been treated very fairly."

Referring to the memo, Mrs Jones said: "It simply reminded staff that the Christmas parties were held for the residents of the homes and they the residents could invite who they wanted. It was sent out with all good intention. I don't understand why people were offended," she added.

Steven Bate, spokesman for CARE, the Caring Alliance for Rest Home Elderly, said: "Can social services sink any lower? Staff who have cared for residents for more than 15 years have been banned from attending what could be their last Christmas party. The staff have been cheated throughout this whole affair. They have been treated very shabbily."

The Citizen was told people who applied for social services posts were due to be contacted by telephone on Wednesday 13.