FAYETTEVILLE — Two employees of the Piney Ridge Treatment Center in Fayetteville were placed on leave after allegations that staff members allowed a fight between clients, prompting a state Department of Human Services investigation.
Piney Ridge Center is a 102-bed psychiatric residential facility for clients who are between the ages of 7 and 17 who suffer from sexual behavior disorders. It is located at 2815 East Zion Road in Fayetteville. Treatment facilities for juveniles are licensed by the Department of Human Services.
Amy Webb, spokeswoman for the department, confirmed Tuesday that the licensing division of the department did investigate fight-related allegations. Whether there are any further investigation into fighting at Piney Ridge, such as a maltreatment investigation by the agency, was not a topic she is legally allowed to discuss, Webb said.
She was also not allowed to release particulars about the investigation since juveniles are involved, she said.
Doris Singleton, CEO of Piney Ridge, issued a statement Tuesday:
Piney Ridge is proud of our long history of providing exceptional care to our patients and their families in highly structured treatment programs. We maintain a zero tolerance policy for any action that could endanger the physical or emotional well-being of a patient.
Employees found to be in violation of our abuse and neglect policies are immediately suspended pending a full investigation and prompt disciplinary action — including termination — is taken as warranted. Due to federal and state patient privacy and confidentiality laws, we cannot comment on the specific allegations.