Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad on the report’s findings and recommendations.

The Children’s Commission has released a report detailing its investigation into the use of seclusion at Hikitia Te Wairua, an Oranga Tamariki facility in Auckland. The report found that the young people being cared for at the facility were presenting with complex behaviors, and that the team did not have the necessary specialist capabilities to deal with them.

Dr Claire Achmad, Children’s Commissioner, said that no young person should be held in seclusion at any time, it goes against their human rights – the UN has been very clear. “We are clear in our report that the cohort of young people who were being cared for at Hikitia Te Wairua… were presenting with complex behaviours. That the team at Hikitia Te Wairua – they didn’t have the particular specialist capabilities to deal with those complex behaviours – and that is why seclusion ended up being used.”

Achmad said the report’s 12 recommendations include an urgent review of the use of seclusion at Hikitia Te Wairua, with the aim of reducing and eliminating its use. It also calls for a review of the use of adult in-patient wards to treat mokopuna, and for a plan to reduce their use for children under 18 years old.

The report recommends creating a therapeutic de-escalation area for mokopuna, to help them self-soothe and regulate in an environment conducive to their needs. It also calls for staff to be given comprehensive training on positive behaviors support and trauma-informed care.

Since March this year, no children or young people had been held in seclusion at the Hikitia Te Wairua facility, Achmad said: “I want to see them continue to build on that progress.” “And so I am calling for a whole of system approach here, so they we never have young people held in seclusion, in places where they are deprived of their liberty. We want to see continued action so children and young people are safe.”

What changes does the report call for?

* An urgent review of the use of seclusion at Hikitia Te Wairua
* A reduction in the use of adult in-patient wards to treat mokopuna
* A plan to reduce the use of these wards for children under 18 years old
* Creation of a therapeutic de-escalation area for mokopuna
* Comprehensive training for staff on positive behaviors support and trauma-informed care

Achmad said that was good news: “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.”

The report’s findings were presented at a press conference earlier today.