Vote of support for board of disability service provider Minda ‘should silence critics’

A vote of support for the board of disability service provider Minda should “silence” its critics, says the organisation’s president.

• Allegations of abuse and neglect at disability services provider Minda
• President Susan Neuhaus seeking support amid sanctions turmoil

A vote of support for the board of disability service provider Minda should “silence” its critics, says the organisation’s president.

About 130 members of Minda Association, including relatives of people cared for by the organisation, on Sunday attended a special general meeting called in the wake of sanctions imposed on Minda Nursing Home late last year.

The Advertiser understands 75 members voted in support of a motion put forward by board president Susan Neuhaus and 57 against.

In a statement following the vote, Dr Neuhaus said the result showed support for Minda’s response to the sanctions imposed by the federal Health Department, and for reviews of Minda’s governance and care “currently underway”.

Following inspections in December the department found there was “an immediate and severe risk to the health, safety and wellbeing” of residents at the 54-bed Brighton home because of failings in nursing care, pain management, nutrition, hydration and behaviour management.

Minda was given six months to improve. It has appointed an administrator, developed new staff training and will spend $300,000 upgrading the home.

Dr Neuhaus called Sunday’s meeting late last month, citing “some who prefer to lay blame” for problems uncovered at Minda and “negative” media coverage.

Minda President Susan Neuhaus at the Australian War Memorial. Picture: Kym Smith

On Sunday she said there had been “intense media and community scrutiny” on Minda and “distracting tactics” used by “a small faction which has opportunistically agitated for change”.

“This outcome should now silence those critics and allow an opportunity to focus solely on the future of the organisation,” she said.

Dr Neuhaus has committed to step down as president mid-year but board member David Holst has been calling for her immediate resignation.

Mr Holst, who was elected in November by more than 120 association members, had sought to put a counter-motion at Sunday’s meeting calling for Dr Neuhaus’ resignation but this was not scheduled in time.

Mr Holst told The Advertiser he would offer his resignation to the board at a meeting on Wednesday, given the outcome of the vote.

Mr Holst said there were “serious problems that need to be resolved” at Minda and he urged the leadership to be “driving change from today, not waiting … for a report to arrive”.

Dr Neuhaus said the sanctions had “reinforced the need for an open and transparent review of the way Minda delivers care across the organisation”.

She said Minda was “well advanced on improving care standards” and the reviews were commissioned to “identify areas for change”.

Minda is among seven South Australian aged care homes under current sanctions for failing to meet standards.

The state Human Services Department is also in the final stages of an investigation into medication management at Minda and other concerns raised by the family of a client.