The Social Development Minister is already getting rid of people in her department after admitting she was ashamed of how Child Youth and Family (CYF) was operating.
Anne Tolley announced a complete overhaul of the system yesterday.
She told the Paul Henry programme today there needs to be more attention paid to frontline staff.
"They spend less than 15 percent of their time working with the children and more than 50 percent of the time filling in forms," she says. "That tells you that there's something seriously wrong."
Meanwhile, Ms Tolley earlier ruled out outsourcing CYF services to private prison operator Serco.
Suspicions were raised when Serco's Auckland South Corrections Facility staff members were seen at the nearby Korowai Manaaki youth justice centre, something Ms Tolley initially denied had happened.
She says they were just being neighbourly, and that there was "no way" Serco would take over running Korowai Manaaki.
"I've been very clear that I'm not talking about putting any part of CYF's statutory responsibilities over to a private company, whether it's Serco or anyone else."
She has also asked CYF to investigate claims of rule-breaking at the youth justice centre in question after New Zealand First's Darroch Ball says staff at Korowai Manaaki are being intimidated by inmates, and cellphones, KFC, and R18 movies being smuggled in.
Mr Ball says the allegations are "out of control" and has urged the Government to investigate.
"Where is the transparency? Where's the flow of information? Where's the communication? It's not there and it's any wonder why CYF is in the state that it's in at the moment," he says.
"It's a matter of safety for the youth [and it's] a matter of safety for the staff there as well."
3 News / RadioLIVE
