Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad has welcomed the government agencies’ acceptance of her commission’s report on seclusion in Oranga Tamariki facilities.

The report found that seclusion was used to manage complex behaviours of children and young people, but it went against their human rights. The report called for a whole-of-system approach to eliminate seclusion in places where they are deprived of their liberty.

Dr Achmad said that the government agencies involved had accepted all 12 recommendations made in the report. “I am really pleased that the government agencies involved here have accepted all of our 12 recommendations that we have made in this report … they are being progressed,” she said.

She added that no young person should be held in seclusion at any time, as it goes against their human rights – the UN has been very clear. The commission recommended a therapeutic de-escalation area be created for children and young people to help them self-soothe and regulate in an environment conducive to their needs.

Dr Achmad said since March this year, no children or young people had been held in seclusion at the Hikitia Te Wairua facility. She wants to see continued action so that children and young people are safe.

The report’s 12 recommendations included:

* An urgent review of the use of seclusion at Hikitia Te Wairua
* A review of the use of adult in-patient wards to treat mokopuna
* A plan to reduce the use for children under 18 years old
* The creation of a therapeutic de-escalation area for mokopuna
* Comprehensive training for staff

Dr Achmad called on the government agencies involved to work together to implement these recommendations.