Staff issues at youth centre cause alarm
Dozens of staff have quit and 10 have been given final warnings in two years of turmoil at the South Island’s only youth justice facility.
Seventy-two staff have left Te Puna Wai and 80 employment investigations have been held since Russell Caldwell took charge two years ago.
Caldwell previously had oversight of the notorious Don Dale youth detention centre in Australia where children were allegedly assaulted, stripped naked and tear gassed.
This week it emerged Te Puna Wai, in Christchurch, was grappling with two serious incidents. An inmate escaped and went on the run for five days before handing himself in. Another youth assaulted two staff on a flight from Nelson to Christchurch.
Figures released by the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki reveal that since Caldwell took charge of Te Puna Wai in April 2015, 72 staff have left.
Forty-two of those staff resigned and 19 worked out their contract. The ministry suppressed how many staff were dismissed, retired or medically retired. Forty-seven staff have been hired.
Public Service Association organiser Kathy Higgins said the union was ‘‘concerned’’ about the state of affairs at Te Puna Wai and the ‘‘punitive nature’’ of actions against its members.
‘‘There’s a high level of disciplinary activity and we are wanting to work with Oranga Tamariki to sort this out.’’
National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) has been vocal about the need for Te Puna Wai and the ministry to move from a ‘‘punitive blame culture’’ towards one of support and learning.
Secretary Janice Gemmell said the union was concerned about the ‘‘high number’’ of investigations and issues relating to staff in the last couple of years.
‘‘There will be times when investigations are needed however the number of investigations at Te Puna Wai seems very high.
‘‘When an employer leaps to an investigation and a punitive approach then they create fear and stress for staff. Staff have a hard job and need support from their employer.’’
Gemmell said it was good Caldwell remained at Te Puna Wai, given the high turnover of managers before his appointment.
‘‘Staff at Te Puna Wai need to know they have the support of their manager and some continuity in management.’’
Caldwell is no stranger to controversy. The Don Dale youth detention centre was the focus of a royal commission of inquiry sparked by concerns about the abuse of boys held there.
In July last year, videos were shown of facility officers allegedly abusing detainees, including tear gassing six boys and strapping one to a chair.
Caldwell was the director of youth detention for Correctional Services in Australia’s Northern Territory for about 18 months from October 2013, with oversight of Don Dale.
Caldwell told the juvenile justice royal commission in Australia in March that Don Dale was in crisis by that point and he ‘‘began to lose grip on the strategic direction . . . and operational matters’’.
He was appointed to a management roll at Christchurch Men’s Prison last year, but was turned away after details of the abuse at Don Dale was revealed.
Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki, youth justice residences manager Ben Hannifin said the ministry had confidence in all its facilities’ leadership teams. It had no specific information to think otherwise.