44670 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

44670 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: What specialist Intervention and Support Project Teams, if any, are currently supported by an administration officer and two dedicated custodial officers?

Hon Mark Mitchell: Intervention and Support Practice Teams (ISPTs) are currently in place at eight of Corrections’ prisons: Mt Eden Corrections Facility, Auckland Prison, Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility, Spring Hill Corrections Facility, Waikeria Prison, Rimutaka Prison, Christchurch Men’s Prison and Otago Corrections Facility. Mental health staff employed by Corrections are also in place at seven additional prisons: Northland Region Corrections Facility, Arohata Prison, Whanganui Prison, Manawatu Prison, Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison, Christchurch Women’s Prison and Invercargill Prison. Initially, each of these prisons had one clinical nurse specialist mental-health (CNS-MH), but this has since expanded to include additional mental health staff which are included in the attached tables that represent ISPT roles. Although located at different prisons, these staff report to ISPT Clinical Managers and are considered part of ISPTs. Tongariro Prison and Rolleston Prison do not currently have mental health staff employed by Corrections. People at these prisons with mental health needs are either provided support by contracted mental health providers or receive specialist mental health support from Forensic Mental Health Services, funded by Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora. Six prisons with ISPTs currently employ administration staff. An administration support officer role is also established at Otago Corrections Facility but is currently vacant. The ISPT at Waikeria Prison is newly established and recruitment is ongoing for this team. Decisions have not yet been made whether this ISPT will be supported by an administration support officer. While ISPTs do not have corrections officers dedicated to the team, all ISPT teams work closely with custodial staff and are supported by a minimum of two corrections officers when actively providing support to people with mental health needs, such as within Intervention and Support Units. I refer the member to the attached tables, which provides the number of filled, established, and vacant ISPT and CNS-MH roles, broken down by prison and month end, since November 2023. This is also my response to WPQ 44671 (2024) and WPQ 44673(2024).