Jail counsellor had relationship with inmate

A prison counsellor who developed an intimate relationship with her client breached both professional and ethical standards, a report has found.

The counsellor, dubbed Ms B in the report, was aware of her client, Mr A’s, history of sexual abuse and his vulnerability, according to the report from Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Kevin Allan.

‘‘In my view, Ms B took advantage of Mr A’s vulnerability,’’ his report, released yesterday, said.

But despite the power imbalance in the relationship, Allan recommended the woman return to work as a counsellor.

Ms B provided counselling services to Mr A, then an inmate at an unnamed prison, from May, 2017, until he was transferred to another prison in April, 2018.

From January to April of that year, the man phoned the counsellor on 56 occasions, Allan heard.

The conversations were recorded and were ‘‘personal and domestic’’ in nature, Allan found.

When the inmate was moved from the second prison to a residential facility, he and the counsellor disclosed to staff at the facility, and the man’s probation officer, that they were in an intimate relationship.

Ms B had visited Mr A at the facility and sent him gifts and money.

Allan’s report traversed the power imbalance between prisoners and their health providers.

He said the onus was on the provider to maintain professional boundaries and ethical standards.

‘‘I do not consider that a relationship being consensual altered this fact,’’ he said.

But he stopped short of recommending the counsellor’s dismissal.

Instead, he recommended she should return to work as a counsellor, but that the New Zealand Association of Counsellors require her to undertake further training on ‘‘ethical and boundary issues’’.

Allan also recommended that she be regularly mentored by someone selected by the association.

His conclusion in the report noted Ms B breached professional and ethical standards both through her personal relationship with Mr A while he was at the unit, and by developing an intimate relationship with him while he was staying at the residential facility.

‘‘As a result, Ms B breached Right 4[2] of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights [the Code].’’