The Canadian Mental Health Association Kamloops Branch located at 857 Seymour Street.
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October 23, 2019 - 8:00 AM
An internal investigation has been launched and the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association of the Kamloops branch has been placed on administrative leave, according to the provincial association’s Chief Executive Officer.
Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association B.C. Division, says a number of concerns were brought to the attention of the provincial office in the late summer.
“From there (we) made the decision to jointly work on an investigation with an external investigator to ensure a fair assessment of the concerns we received,” Morris says, adding the association cannot reveal any details of what those concerns were.
The branch’s executive director, Christa Mullaly, has been placed on administrative leave as the investigation takes place, Morris confirmed.
The investigation is expected to conclude in the upcoming days or weeks, he says. It’s also unclear if any other employees within the Kamloops branch are being investigated as well, Morris says.
The process of the investigation is being jointly led by the provincial division office and the Canadian Mental Health Association Kamloops board of directors.
Morris says he can’t be specific about the investigation and couldn't say if the allegations are potentially criminal in nature.
“A this point in time I can’t answer that question. I think it gets into a detail in the investigation that I can’t comment on so I can’t respond to that,” he says.
The provincial office has been providing the Kamloops office with as much support to staff and clients who use services provided by the CMHA in Kamloops.
“We are doing what we can to ensure services are not interrupted or disrupted as a result of what has been going on and the has been a primary focus over the past few weeks,” Morris says. “I want people to know it’s our priority to see those services continue to ensure people get the right kind of care at the right kind of time.”
ASK Wellness Society has been providing support to the Kamloops branch but they have not taken over operations, Morris says.
According to Morris, more than 160 people are served by the Kamloops branch every day through various programs.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2019