Requested by: Stuff | Response provided: 31/08/2020
Category: Mental Health,Workforce Development

I write in response to your Official Information Act request initially received by us 12th August. Your initial request was sent as a media query on the 7th August, but subsequently agreed to be processed as an Official Information Act on 12th August, requesting the following information:

According to a report to the latest Counties Manukau DHB Hospital Advisory Committee staff recruitment remains a major problem for its Mental Health and Addiction division. It states:

“Across the CM Health Mental Health and Addiction division there continues to be areas with significant workforce recruitment and retention issues. Intake and assessment is another team that is experiencing high vacancies and is working to ensure an acute response is able to be provided across CM Health.”

“Although there has been a significant improvement in the staffing numbers, which has assisted with team morale and service delivery, it is important to acknowledge that a number of the new staff are relatively junior in their career and some are new to the Child and Youth service.”

That’s despite there being an increased demand for Mental Health and Addiction services following the Covid-19 lockdown.

The report also refers to the lack of experience many of the new recruits have.

 

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