Workers could take strike action over the proposed outsourcing of a “vital” emergency response service that supports vulnerable residents.

Trade union branch Barnet Unison has slammed “foolhardy” plans to outsource the Assist telecare service, which supports around 4,700 residents, claiming it could put the safety of vulnerable people at risk.

The union branch has balloted workers on industrial action and called on Barnet Council to retain control of the service. It plans to announce the result of the ballot on Wednesday, 16th March.

Assist, which is currently run by council-owned company The Barnet Group, provides equipment such as alarms that can be used by residents if they get into difficulty. The alarm alerts a call centre, allowing staff to decide whether to visit the resident’s home, inform a relative or contact the emergency services.

According to Barnet Unison, the round-the-clock support often makes the difference between someone being able to continue living at home or having to go into residential care.

The union says privatising Assist, designed to save £160,000 per year, would be “foolhardy” and “further fragment the services and increase the risk of miscommunication with the possible outcome of failing to respond to critical calls by service users”.

The dispute comes as Barnet Council prepares to bring five services that were previously outsourced to private firm Capita back under its direct control. It also recently faced criticism over the decision to close a care home, Apthorp Care Centre, and make staff redundant after the building was found to require “significant” repair work.

Helen Davies, branch chair of Barnet Unison, said: “Last autumn we had the debacle of 74 care workers being given redundancy due to the closure of Apthorp Care Centre, and now this! This service is so cheap to run and so valuable to thousands of residents of Barnet – it beggars belief that once again the lives of key workers are being thrown up in the air as soon as the crisis is over.”

Helen called on the council and The Barnet Group “to do the right thing and find a way forward which benefits residents and keeps a valued service in Barnet”.

A spokesperson for The Barnet Group said: “The safety and wellbeing of all our customers is a main priority. The Barnet Group is currently reviewing how the 24/7 alarm call service provided by Assist is delivered.

“No decision has been taken as we are still reviewing the options available. Any decision will take into careful consideration the wellbeing of the people who use this service and the future employment of the staff providing it.”