Allegations about inappropriate care have been made against a for-profit provider being used by the Tasmanian Government to care for children with disabilities on child protection orders.

The ABC can also reveal the provider Total Support Services (TSS) was managed by a former senior employee of Safe Pathways — the for-profit care provider that came under scrutiny in 2016 for its alleged neglect of children in its care.

A social worker and departmental source, who spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, said TSS was exposing children to inappropriate discipline, resulting in escalating behaviours that had contributed to the hospitalisation of a teenager in its care.

Evidence seen by the ABC shows TSS has been used by the Department of Health and Human Services' Child and Youth Services for residential care since January 2017 and short-term respite care for children with disabilities on child protection orders since August 2017.

A social worker, who the ABC has called Paul, said he had observed TSS staff acting inappropriately towards a teenage client, who later ended up at the Royal Hobart Hospital psychiatric department.

"You know [the staff were] picking on the young person, stating things like 'why are you drinking that' and 'why are you standing there.'"

Paul said when the client became distressed, some TSS workers sat on her and removed her from the clinical office, which he described as "heavy handed and using physical restraint against their will, when there probably wasn't a need to do that".

"It's clear the TSS workers don't have adequate training to look after really, really vulnerable and difficult young people," he said.

Paul said his organisation had reported "multiple concerns" about TSS's delivery of care to the Department Of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on three or four occasions.

"TSS doesn't do the work the way it's meant to be done, they haven't got models of care and so young people are being thrown into these makeshift situations," Paul said.

"I know of a young person who is not getting to school on time, because he doesn't have a consistent care to help him through that."

A spokeswoman from Total Support Services said the allegations were inaccurate and declined to make further comment.

Minister assures investigation underway now

The Minister for Human Services, Housing and Planning, Roger Jaensch, said he could not comment on individual cases, but confirmed investigations were currently being conducted.

"Anytime there is even the report of an allegation that there is a child at harm, all of the resources of our department are put on to finding out the details, and conducting investigations, and I can assure you that process is underway right now," he said.

"The safety and wellbeing of children is paramount, for all of us, and I need to assure you and your listeners that any allegations that are made or reported are immediately investigated."

Mr Jaensch said it was not important whether a provider was for-profit or not-for-profit.

"I don't think it's necessarily a deciding factor in these things," he said.

"I urge anybody — whether they be members of the child safety service, members of the public, members of the media — if you have any information at any time that suggests there are children at risk or in harm, you must report it."

TSS 'lacks structure and support' for difficult young people

Twelve children were removed from Safe Pathways' care in December 2016 after the ABC aired allegations the for-profit provider had neglected a 12-year-old.

It followed a Four Corners investigation that found very little of the hundreds of thousands of dollars the organisation received from the Tasmanian Government was used to help children in need.

The then-DHHS Minister Jacquie Petrusma was warned the use of TSS, under the management of the former Safe Pathways employee, could generate negative media coverage.

The ABC understands DHSS sent children to TSS as a last resort when preferred not-for-profit providers were unable to accommodate them, with for-profit providers used in exceptional circumstances only.

A departmental source told the ABC there were widespread concerns about the quality of care being provided by TSS and that child safety officers were actively looking at other options.

Safe Pathways had its contract cancelled in 2016 after former staff accused it of rorting and neglecting the children in its care. ( Unsplash: Daniel Garcia )

Paul said TSS was failing in its duty, describing it as "almost a carbon copy" of Safe Pathways.

"They [TSS] don't have strategies to deal with young people like this, they lack the structure and supports, the haven't provided therapeutic specialists like the other agencies that are doing this work," he said.

It is unclear whether the senior Safe Pathways staff member is still employed by TSS.

Labor MLC Josh Willie called on the new DHHS Minister, Mr Jaensch, to ensure the claims were seriously looked at.

"These allegations are deeply concerning and it's now incumbent on Minister Jaensch to ensure that they are investigated fully and if they are proven to be true, he needs to take responsibility for that."

Mr Willie said the history of Safe Pathways was well documented.

"There was a history of inadequate, neglectful care and it's deeply concerning if that situation has occurred again with another for-profit provider," he said.

A Tasmanian Government spokesman said due to privacy obligations the DHHS did not discuss individual matters.

He said TSS was one of a number of providers used by DHHS and contracts were awarded in accordance to protocols.

He said the employees of TSS were a matter for the provider and all allegations must be reported to Child Safety Services.