SOCIAL care services for vulnerable people look set to be hit hard as the Inverclyde Integration Joint Board is asked to approve £5.2 million worth of cuts.

The Health & Social Care Partnership have set out proposals to them to plug a huge funding gap over the next two years by targeting the likes of respite and day centres for older people in the next year.

At the same time there will be a five per cent increase in all social care charges.

But joint board convenor Councillor Robert Moran has warned that while tough choices have to be made now, there are even more challenges to come as funding for key public services continues to suffer.

The joint board will be asked to vote through a budget which will see £2.1m cut in the first year.

Councillor Moran told the Tele: "We have had some tough decisions to make and our aim was to protect frontline services.

"But I have say what is worrying me the most, is there are more challenges to come. It is actually scary what is in front of us.

"Like other places in the country, social care budgets are being hit, but people elsewhere are envious of our position in Inverclyde. We are managing to plug the funding gap without the huge disruptions faced elsewhere.

"But I would not be telling the truth if I said that people will not feel some impact. What we are trying to do is to target our resources where the greatest need is.

"It has been difficult but we have managed to avoid compulsory redundancies. We have spoken to our trade union partners and there will be the option of voluntary redundancy."

Care chiefs will reduce the funding gap by redesigning commissioned care services to save £250,000. Day services for older people currently provided at the community hubs at Broomhill and Inverkip will also be changed, cutting £239,000.

Respite services will be reduced to save £267,000, with the permanent closure of the Hillend Centre in Greenock.

Self-directed adult services are set to take the biggest hit, with cuts of half a million. Posts that have been vacant long term will not be filled, saving £192,000.

In the second year of savings bosses will look to make more cuts, with nursing care and independent and supported living services all affected, alongside a restructuring.

In a report to the integrated joint board chief officer Kate Rocks states: 'It is our intention to work closely with staff and staff side representatives over the next year to deliver the targets in these redesigns/workstreams which impact our staff and providers.

'These workstreams are assuming no compulsory redundancies and manageable staff implications.

'A number of these workstreams are already carrying vacant posts or staff currently deployed elsewhere which will minimise the impact.

'Where relevant, targeted voluntary severance packages will be considered. Updates on their progress will be brought back to the integrated joint board where relevant detailing full implications and final approval where necessary.'

Inverclyde Integration Joint Board meets on Monday to discuss the budget.