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The country’s largest provider of kaupapa Māori residential care for intellectually disabled people says it has taken action after a Health Ministry finding that it is seriously dysfunctional.
Te Roopu Taurima ō Manukau looks after 300 intellectually disabled people in homes in Northland, Auckland and Waikato.
A ministry investigation found there were 47 incidents between October 2010 and December 2013 including 17 escapes, 14 alleged assaults, two patients charged by police, a medication error, a car accident and a fire.
It found there were some seriously unsuitable staff, including former prisoners, who had not been given basic training, and management failed to address reports of bullying and abuse.
The ministry has appointed an external monitor onto the board to ensure the report’s recommendations are met.
On its website, Te Roopu Taurima says a number of staff have been sacked and it has implemented a zero tolerance policy on abuse of children, immediate police involvement when allegations are made and it is spending more on staff training and monitoring.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd
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