DISGRUNTLED staff at a Wroughton care home claim their livelihoods are in jeopardy after a mix-up over who will pay their salaries.

The contract to manage Langton House, which has around 40 members of staff and cares for 35 people, was awarded to care company Agincare from Swindon Council last month but staff say they have been left in the dark about the process.

They claim they received their P45s from Swindon Council last week and there was no clue as to who is going to be paying their salary for July as Agincare does not officially take over until mid-month.

One staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “This is like a living nightmare and no-one knows what is going on.

“We have now been told that Swindon Council will ‘kindly’ pay this month, but only a basic rate salary – which is not good enough as some of us work loads of overtime which we will not get paid for.

“I work with a single mum who has clocked up around 55 hours this month but will only be paid the basic rate of 19 hours – how is that fair? We will also be taxed on the basic rate, because our tax codes will all change – which again leaves us out of pocket.

“I stand to lose about £250 this month, which is unacceptable.”

The management of Langton House and Wick House in Liden was outsourced to the care company under a lease arrangement as part of the council’s shake-up of adult and social care.

A spokesman for Agincare said they did not wish to make an official comment as Swindon Council was picking up the staff bill this month. She said there had been some confusion as to who would pay because Agincare takes over mid-month.

A council spokesman said: “We are endeavouring to keep staff fully informed of developments and we expect the transfer to Agincare to take place immediately. We have reassured staff they will be paid.”