BOLTON Council is planning to halve the number of staff in its department which cares for elderly and vulnerable people in bid to save £1 million.

But despite the cuts in adult care services, which could see the number of posts slashed from 250 to 120, town hall chiefs insist residents will not see a change in the level of care they receive.

The authority yesterday started a 90-day consultation with staff over plans to streamline the way it delivers care to some of the most vulnerable adults in the borough.

The changes, which include merging the management of its Elderly Mental Illness Home Care (EMI) and Short Term Assessment and Support (STAS) services, are the result of a review to make the services more efficient and achieving the cuts.

John Rutherford, director of adult and community services at Bolton Council said: “The new services will offer targeted short and medium term support to people in their own homes and people will benefit from increased contact time with staff.”

One of the ways the council is aiming to make the service more efficient is by co-ordinating staff rotas to reduce the distance carers have to travel between appointments.

At present around 122 people use the EMI service while there are 70 residents currently on the STAS service.

Mr Rutherford said: “There will be no change in the level of service we provide. This is about looking at how we can provide a service which is as good as, if not better, whilst making the cuts we need to.”

The Audit Commission recently gave Bolton Council four-stars for its adult care services.

Council bosses met with union officials on Tuesday before announcing details of the plan to staff yesterday.

A spokesman for the union Unison said: “We are well aware that staff are upset with the proposals, especially in the current climate.

“We have organised union meetings at the town hall on May 27 and have negotiated paid release for all affected Unison members to attend.”