Raising concerns
Worker wants more to be done to address violence at youth home
A worker who was assaulted in the course of her duties at a youth residential centre in Sydney says not enough is being done to improve working conditions for staff there.
Martha Green has been off the job at Comhla Cruinn since April and is currently on medical leave, receiving employment insurance sick benefits, although that is due to expire in the next few weeks.
For her, the problems began in October 2016, Green said in an interview. A youth threw a chair near where she was standing, shattering a window. She wasn’t hurt in that incident but several months later the same youth threw two chairs at her, she said, and she was injured.
“Basically what the problem is … the facility that we work in is not a facility to be housing these type of violent youth because we don’t have the proper training,” Green said. “It’s falling on deaf ears.”
The training that they have is in non-violent crisis intervention, she said, which she doesn’t believe is sufficient. As well, some of the youth residing there should be placed in a more secure facility, she added.
“We need to be trained like a security guard would be trained,” Green said.
Her health is now such that she can’t return to work, she said, and is working toward obtaining long-term disability benefits.
She is also critical of the work of the union and occupational held and safety officials on the issue.
“I’ve been following the proper processes and procedures, nobody’s been helping me,” Green said.
“All of a sudden because I’m speaking out now, they’re having problems with me.
“Somebody is going to get hurt in there or killed.”
She said she had 14 years of previously positive job performance appraisals.
“When you’re going into a war zone every day, you know what that will do to you and that’s what I consider that place, just like going to war every day because you don’t know when these kids are going to attack and you have literally absolutely no protection whatsoever,” she said. “If something happens in there to somebody, at least I know I stood up and did my part.”
Almost two years ago, Joan Jessome, former president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU), went public with the concerns of workers at Comhla Cruinn, describing it as being “out of control,” with issues including drug use, unsafe sexual activity, threats, violent outbursts and assaults by some youth.
A spokesperson for the Department of Community Services provided a statement this
week in response to questions from the Cape Breton Post.
It stated that the safety and well-being of the children in its care and the staff who care for them is a priority.
“Over the past year, we have worked closely with both Labour and Advanced Education and the NSGEU on a comprehensive action plan to address the occupational health and safety concerns raised by employees of the centre,” the statement reads.”
It notes that the department has enhanced training provided to staff and has undertaken measures to improve sightlines so staff can better observe what’s happening throughout the centre. Youth each have individualized care plans designed to support their needs, with support and oversight provided by clinical directors at the Wood Street Campus to ensure that plans are therapeutically appropriate, the statement notes.
The department can also modify the number of placements at a residential facility when necessary. The eight-bed Comhla Cruinn has had five youth residing there in recent months.
The union provided an update to employees in June about steps that have been undertaken. In addition to the measures outlined by the department, they include the use of mobile radios and development of a policy governing their use, and additional training is being studied. The union and department also agreed to meet again to assess progress.
In an interview Thursday, current NSGEU president Jason MacLean said he is satisfied with the progress that has been made in improving conditions for staff at Comhla Cruinn since Green was last in the workplace.
“We’re in constant contact with the employer in working on certain issues that have happened,” he said. “The work is being done by the employer to make the place a safer place.”
The most recent meeting took place Oct. 20, and another will take place in six months to continue to chart actions being taken, MacLean said.
“Right now, we’re satisfied with the work that is being done because the place is being made safe,” he said. “What we’re doing is being vigilant with the employer to make sure that the proper implementations are being done.”