Claims of understaffing leave Cleveland Youth Detention Centre workers vulnerable
Shocking claims have emerged on Cleveland Youth Detention Centre operating on less than half its usual staff, leaving workers feeling vulnerable.
Townsville
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Shocking claims have emerged about Cleveland Youth Detention Centre operating on less than half its usual staff, leaving workers feeling vulnerable.
It comes as the Townsville Bulletin revealed 14 staff members from Cleveland Youth Detention Centre (CYDC) were sent to Wacol’s Brisbane Youth Detention Centre following the breakout of a COVID-19 cluster in late August.
Since then staff members have suffered broken noses, while another had their arm broken after being assaulted by a teenage detainee who bashed them with a phone.
“Very understaffed is an understatement. Units are being locked down due to staff shortages every day and there would be an average of 30 floor staff a day when really we need about 60 to run the centre safely, hence the ridiculous numbers of staff assaults,” an officer told the Bulletin.
During the night shifts, staff numbers are further reduced, another source has said.
“We’re supposed to have 13 people on a single night shift, with two supervisors to oversee the duties,” the source said.
“Sometimes we’re running with eight (staff members). The lowest I’ve seen it is about seven.
“People are watching twice what they are supposed to do. Some of these staff don’t get any breaks.”
The source said staff were moving detainees into double rooms to make them easier to manage.
A Department of Youth Justice spokeswoman denied the detention centre was understaffed, saying there were about 200 operational staff at work while CYDC was at about 60 per cent of its 112 capacity.
“CYDC currently has enough staff to support 112 young people in detention, even though the centre is only occupied by 66 young people,” she said.
“Seventeen staff from CYDC temporarily relocated to Brisbane Youth Detention Centre to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
“It is common practice to rotate staff across the department for their own development and in response to community needs.”
The department spokeswoman said staff were currently receiving extra training.
She said staff at CYDC were also undertaking a review of use of force and verbal de-escalation actions and techniques, in collaboration with Queensland Police Service, to manage violent and aggressive behaviour.
Originally published as Claims of understaffing leave Cleveland Youth Detention Centre workers vulnerable