Pinel Institute cutting 37 socio-therapist jobs

Re-education and rehabilitation are being undermined, union claims

Montreal’s Philippe-Pinel Institute has abolished 37 posts held by socio-therapists, who are tasked with the re-education and rehabilitation of patients.

The union representing the psychiatric hospital’s 700 employees — 200 of them socio-therapists — warned last week they had heard that the cuts were coming, and received confirmation late Thursday that the jobs would be eliminated.

The reductions mean that on weekdays the number of socio-therapists will drop from three to two per ward, and on weekends, one instead of two.

Meanwhile, the number of nurses and security personnel will be increased.

“All the staffing structures elsewhere at the Institute have been increased,” said union president Sylvain Lemieux. “There have been 37 socio-therapist positions cut but the number of (security) agent jobs have been increased by 37.

“So, it’s re-education and rehabilitation that are getting undermined. And while they’re being replaced by people who ensure security — something important — that can’t replace what the ... socio-therapists are doing.”

Lemieux was more pleased with the increase in nursing staff, saying it was needed.

Management at the Institute said last week that its “consolidation” of resources will result in “an improvement in the care and services offered to patients.”

However Lemieux said he’s puzzled by the staff cuts coming at a time when the hospital — which provides mental health care for patients who are violent, aggressive and have committed criminal acts — recently saw a $12-million increase in its financing.

The union hopes Quebec Health Minister Danielle McCann will rethink the staff cuts before they are carried out in April.