The title of this post may look like a mere attention-grabber but I was genuinely shocked as I read through this RNZ report about Te Whare Pounamu in Dunedin.
1/When children had told staff about sexual abuse it was not reported to Oranga Tamariki. There are some legitimate reasons why I can imagine this happening concerning the child's well-being. Some operatives have very little regard for Oranga Tamariki and might consider they could better handle a situation without involving the state. Still it appears to be a breach of procedure when it comes to accreditation and funding. MSD and Deloitte are both investigating.
2/ A very strong culture of staff using the organisation to feather their own nests; helping themselves to goods donated before they get to clients eg $1,000 of new toys donated by the Warehouse.
3/ The attitude of a manager who described the clients as '... a pack of skanks and slags'.
4/ Inventing client names to attain or retain funding.
If it was just one complainant there might be a temptation to suspect someone with a grudge and good imagination, but the reports are corroborated. And I've only touched on some of the problems.
Good one, The State.
ReplyDeleteApparently 'Women's Refuge' is code for 'Sex Abusers, Fraudsters, And Bullies Refuge.'
"It was just a general atmosphere of dysfunction. Passive-aggressive, unpredictable, bullying-type behaviour directed at various staff members at various times over the entire period I was there."
It's enough to make you a Libertarian!