The Mayor of Villena and the Councillor for Social Welfare visit Peña Rubia Residence to convey staffing and service deficiencies to the Ministry

The Mayor of Villena, Fulgencio Cerdán, and the Councillor for Social Welfare, Alba Laserna, visited the Peña Rubia Residence for People with Functional Diversity this week. Their aim was to understand the current situation of the centre firsthand and to show support for the professional team working under inadequate conditions, which jeopardises the quality of service and the safety of both residents and staff.

During the visit to this centre, which is under the Ministry of Social Services, serious deficiencies in staff coverage were confirmed. According to the staff, in the first two weeks of the month, summer holidays and night reinforcements were not covered, and the minimum essential staff was not guaranteed during weekends. Furthermore, the absence of security personnel has been reported, creating situations of evident risk.

"This situation is unsustainable and profoundly unfair to the centre's users and the professionals who maintain it with tremendous personal effort. The Ministry must address this issue to ensure this basic service and the working conditions of its employees," stated the mayor.

The technical team at the centre has also warned that reducing staff ratios to save costs prioritises economic savings over the real needs of the service. Additionally, the first request for staff expansion was denied by the Ministry, and of the new positions created—a social worker and a nurse—none have been filled yet.

The Councillor for Social Welfare, Alba Laserna, expressed concern about the consequences of this situation: "We are dealing with an essential service that caters to people with specific care and continuous attention needs. Not having adequate staff directly compromises their well-being and safety."

In fact, in recent months, the Local Police have had to intervene twice in emergency situations arising from this structural precariousness.

The Villena City Council insists that adequate staff coverage should not be considered a luxury but an obligation of the regional administration. Therefore, it calls on the Ministry's officials to take immediate measures to end this situation of vulnerability, and necessary actions will be taken.