Head-butt attack on welfare worker

Press, 12 June 1987, Page 3

Head-butt attack on welfare worker

A Social Welfare Department worker was head-butted and had some clothing torn by a member of the public yesterday. The staff member, who was working in the department’s unemployment section, was not seriously injured, said Christchurch’s assistant director of benefits .and pensions, Mr Cliff Money. A complaint was filed with the police. Staff had been trained to deal with abusive customers but “very often these events happen. so quickly,” said Mr Money. ' <• In spite of yesterday’s attack, the number of problems in the department's reception areas had lessened in the last six months. There had been only three physical attacks on staff witibn five months and fewer incidents of porkers

being threatened. He attributed the reduction to improvements in reception areas, staff training, and staff changes. More mature people now worked in reception — “mature in the sense that they can deal with the public in a way that does not antagonise.” Work efficiency had also improved, said Mr Money, but the department had a problem with resources. A limited number of staff meant that when many beneficiaries arrived at the same time there were long queues. “We are fully aware that if we had plenty of staff we would reduce the amount of aggression.” Mr Money said that in every occupation where staff dealt with theMtablic •they were at rist of being. abu«jp:’: :.