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‘Politigårdens Fængsel’
Closed prison section mainly for ‘negatively strong’ prisoners. The monitoring visit concerned the conditions for an inmate who had been excluded from association for a long time.
Talk with 1 user
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management ensure a greater focus on the inmate understanding what is being said during conversations about his situation and rights and during consultations with healthcare staff, and that interpreters be used to a greater extent
- that management, to the greatest extent possible, give the inmate the possibility to work
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'Bostedet Kysten', Nysted
Municipal social residential and daytime facility for adults with substantially and permanently impaired mental functioning, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 3 users and 2 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management try to establish who the residents’ social guardians are, for instance by asking the residents or contacting the court
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'Botilbuddet Granhøjen', Holbæk
A unit of a private social residential and daytime facility for adults with, for instance, intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 2 users
DIGNITY participated
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The monitoring visit did not give rise to any recommendations. |
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'Botilbuddet Bo og Naboskab Sydlolland', Rødby
Regional social residential and activity facility for adults with substantially and permanently impaired mental functioning, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 3 users and 3 relatives etc.
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management try to establish who the residents’ social guardians are, for instance by contacting the court
- that management update the internal guidelines on leave to (a) give correct information on when the state prosecutor has the power to grant leave and (b) reflect – with respect to the delegation by municipalities to the facility – the facility’s practice
- that management ensure adequate documentation in relation to leave, with details of, among other things, starting and end time, whether escorted or unescorted and whether any problems arose
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'Startskuddet, Botilbuddet Jupiter', Mern
Independent institution with social residential and daytime facility for adults with, for instance, intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 2 users and 2 relatives etc.
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management ensure adequate records are made in relation to leave, with details of, among other things, starting and end time, whether escorted or unescorted and whether any problems arose
- that management ensure staff are familiar with the rules of the Executive Order on Leave and on how leave must be recorded
- that management ensure the guidance on use of force is updated to be in line with the applicable rules and expanded to include information about the special rules applicable for persons placed in a social residential facility under a residential care order, cf. Part 24 d of the Social Services Act
- that management provide more specific information in the facility’s guidelines on violence and threats about what must be recorded, and that management describe its duty to report violence, threats and other criminal offences to the police
- that management ensure the guidelines on violence and threats are observed
- that management ensure self-harm, suicide attempts and suicides are recorded with a view to analysing patterns and causes
- that management ensure the directions on procedures to be followed in cases of suicide attempts or threats of suicide are updated with a description of procedures for precautionary measures
- that management bring the house rules in line with the applicable rules
Own-initiative case opened about the supervision by the municipality for crime-prevention purposes of one resident
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'Kofoedsminde', Rødby
Regional secure facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 23 users and 2 relatives etc.
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that searches of residents be carried out in a separate room and not in the presence of other residents
- that residents be informed in writing, in a way considered relevant by management – for instance in the house rules – that any violence, threats or other abuse will be reported to the police and that this may have a negative impact on the possibility of having a residential care order relaxed or discharged
- that management ensure, in a way which it considers relevant, that staff are given a clear understanding of how issues relating to hashish trafficking are to be handled
- that guidance or directions for staff regarding prevention and handling of drug abuse be drawn up
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'Særforanstaltningen Lindegården', Odense
Municipal social residential facility for adults with, for instance, intellectual and developmental disabilities and externalising behaviour, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 2 users and 2 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management ensure that also escorted leave is documented, for instance in the leave log
- that management ensure the directions on the procedure for recording and reporting use of force etc. are updated to include guidelines on, among other things, guidance on complaining
- that management ensure only general guidelines are laid down in the house rules
- that management and healthcare staff ensure continued focus on correct handling of medicines and enter into a dialogue with the municipality about the items in the municipality’s medicine handling directions which in management’s opinion make the handling of medicines difficult – and thus riskier – in this type of facility
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'Psykiatrisk Afdeling Odense'
Two integrated bed units of psychiatric ward
Talks with 7 users and 1 patient advisor
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management ensure the standard form used for records of use of forcible restraint is designed to enable the addition of the compulsory information under section 5 of the Executive Order on, among other subjects, records and reporting of use of coercive measures
- that management ensure the names of the staff members involved are entered into records of use of coercive measures
- that management ensure that, throughout a period of forcible restraint, a renewed assessment is carried out by a physician at least three times over a 24-hour period, at regular intervals, of whether forcible restraint may be continued
- that management ensure the guidelines on involuntary commitment and other use of coercive measures in psychiatric care clearly state when forcible restraint must be terminated under the applicable legislation
- that management ensure the units are aware that debriefings must be carried out systematically in accordance with the applicable rules
- that management ensure constant surveillance of patients without their consent is handled in accordance with the provisions of section 18 d of the Act on Use of Coercive Measures in Psychiatric Care Etc. and section 39 of the Executive Order on Use of Coercive Measures Other Than Involuntary Commitment in Psychiatric Wards
- that management ensure more specific information is included in the house rules about the consequences of violations of the rules
- that management consider adopting specific recording of violence and threats among patients for the purpose of documentation, knowledge and learning
- that management ensure guidelines are drawn up on prevention of and follow-up on violence and threats among patients
- that management keep up its creditable efforts so that the two psychiatric units can continue to offer dialogue with management and staff of wards with somatic patients with a view to reducing the use of coercive measures against somatic patients
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'Specialcenter Syddanmark, Midgårdhus', Ribe
Regional social residential and occupational facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 1 user and 6 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management ensure local directions on the handling of medicines are drawn up in accordance with the guidance notes issued by the Danish Health Authority on the drawing up of directions and that the staff of the facility are trained in the directions
- that management adopt specific recording of violence and threats among residents for the purpose of documentation, knowledge and learning
- that the guidance on, among other things, the types of incidents which may and the types which must be reported to the police, and how this must be done, be amended to state clearly that it also encompasses incidents among residents
- that residents be informed about the facility’s policy on what is reported to the police, and that management inform residents – in a way which it considers relevant – about the possible consequences of being reported to the police, including that this may have a negative impact on the possibility of having a residential care order relaxed or discharged
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'Specialcenter Syddanmark, Østruplund', Otterup
Regional social residential and occupational facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 4 users and 2 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management adopt specific recording of violence and threats among residents for the purpose of documentation, knowledge and learning
- that management ensure local directions on the handling of medicines are drawn up in accordance with the guidance notes issued by the Danish Health Authority on the drawing up of directions and that the staff of the facility are trained in the directions
- that the guidance on, among other things, the types of incidents which may and the types which must be reported to the police, and how this must be done, be amended to state clearly that it also encompasses incidents among residents
- that residents be informed about the facility’s policy on what is reported to the police, and that management inform residents – in a way which it considers relevant – about the possible consequences of being reported to the police, including that this may have a negative impact on the possibility of having a residential care order relaxed or discharged
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'Ørum Bo- og aktivitetscenter, Afdeling Nyvang'
Municipal social residential facility for adults with mental challenges or a special need for intensive support in a residential environment, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 1 user and 2 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management ensure the section on social guardians in the manual for staff on persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities under a residential care order is amended to include information about the duty under the Executive Order on Social Guardians to provide information to social guardians
- that management try to establish who the residents’ social guardians are, for instance by contacting the court
- that management ensure the guidance in the pre-printed forms for applications for leave are brought into line with the facility’s practice by deletion of the incorrect information that applications must be sent to the principal of the facility at least 14 days in advance
- that management ensure the guidance on complaining about use of force and other restrictions includes guidance on the applicable deadlines for complaints and that residents are given relevant and adequate information about the deadlines
- that management ensure written guidelines are drawn up on violence and threats of violence among residents which include, among other things, guidelines on how to handle the victim and perpetrator and any residents not directly involved in the incident and guidelines on how to follow up towards the respective residents, including on questions in relation to reporting incidents to the police
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'Pension Engelsborg', Kongens Lyngby
Halfway house under the Prison and Probation Service, particularly for persons who are serving the last part of their sentence or who are under supervision. The visit was carried out as part of the Ombudsman’s monitoring of the conditions in Prison and Probation Service institutions during the COVID-19 period.
Talks with 3 users
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that the Prison and Probation Service review its experiences from the COVID-19 period with a view to determining whether any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – can be handled effectively but at the same time by means of less restrictive measures
- that the Department of Prisons and Probation consider on an ongoing basis during any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – whether there is a basis for drawing up guidelines targeted to the conditions in halfway houses under the Prison and Probation Service
- that the Department consider laying down written guidelines on the prevention of adverse psychological effects of isolation due to COVID-19 or any future epidemics or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions, and that these guidelines focus particularly on alternative ways in which inmates can have meaningful human contact, including with non-relatives, and keep themselves occupied
- that, during the COVID-19 pandemic and any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – the Department and the managements of Prison and Probation Service institutions ensure to a greater extent that inmates are informed about guidelines on prevention of the spread of infection and about restrictions on their rights etc. in a language which they understand in order that all inmates will receive adequate information
- that the Department and the managements of Prison and Probation Service institutions analyse the causes of the lower incidence of, among other things, violence and threats of violence, use of force, placements in security cells and disciplinary sanctions during the COVID-19 period for the purpose of preventing such incidents during times of normal conditions
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'Blegdamsvejens Arrest'
Local prison particularly for persons remanded in custody during investigation of their case. The visit was carried out as part of the Ombudsman’s monitoring of the conditions in Prison and Probation Service institutions during the COVID-19 period.
Talks with 5 users
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that the Prison and Probation Service review its experiences from the COVID-19 period with a view to determining whether any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – can be handled effectively but at the same time by means of less restrictive measures
- that the Department of Prisons and Probation consider on an ongoing basis during any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – whether there is a basis for drawing up guidelines targeted to the conditions in halfway houses under the Prison and Probation Service
- that the Department consider laying down written guidelines on the prevention of adverse psychological effects of isolation due to COVID-19 or any future epidemics or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions, and that these guidelines focus particularly on alternative ways in which inmates can have meaningful human contact, including with non-relatives, and keep themselves occupied
- that, during the COVID-19 pandemic and any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – the Department and the managements of Prison and Probation Service institutions ensure to a greater extent that inmates are informed about guidelines on prevention of the spread of infection and about restrictions on their rights etc. in a language which they understand in order that all inmates will receive adequate information
- that the Department and the managements of Prison and Probation Service institutions analyse the causes of the lower incidence of, among other things, violence and threats of violence, use of force, placements in security cells and disciplinary sanctions during the COVID-19 period for the purpose of preventing such incidents during times of normal conditions
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'Nyborg Fængsel'
Sections for persons sentenced to deportation in closed prison. The visit was carried out as part of the Ombudsman’s monitoring of the conditions in Prison and Probation Service institutions during the COVID-19 period.
Talks with 12 users
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that the Prison and Probation Service review its experiences from the COVID-19 period with a view to determining whether any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – can be handled effectively but at the same time by means of less restrictive measures
- that the Department of Prisons and Probation consider on an ongoing basis during any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – whether there is a basis for drawing up guidelines targeted to the conditions in halfway houses under the Prison and Probation Service
- that the Department consider laying down written guidelines on the prevention of adverse psychological effects of isolation due to COVID-19 or any future epidemics or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions, and that these guidelines focus particularly on alternative ways in which inmates can have meaningful human contact, including with non-relatives, and keep themselves occupied
- that, during the COVID-19 pandemic and any future epidemics – or serious outbreaks of disease with a particular risk of spreading in Prison and Probation Service institutions – the Department and the managements of Prison and Probation Service institutions ensure to a greater extent that inmates are informed about guidelines on prevention of the spread of infection and about restrictions on their rights etc. in a language which they understand in order that all inmates will receive adequate information
- that the Department and the managements of Prison and Probation Service institutions analyse the causes of the lower incidence of, among other things, violence and threats of violence, use of force, placements in security cells and disciplinary sanctions during the COVID-19 period for the purpose of preventing such incidents during times of normal conditions
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'Botilbuddet Lærkely', Tønder
Municipal social residential and occupational facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 3 users
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management try to establish who the residents’ social guardians are, for instance by contacting the court
- to ensure residents are informed about the facility’s policy on what is reported to the police
- that medicine boxes with poured-out medicines be marked with the resident’s name and civil registration number
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'De 2 Gårde, Fuglekærgård', Vejle
Municipal social residential facility for adults with, for instance, intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 5 users and 6 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management ensure the facility draws up written guidelines on prevention and handling of incidents involving violence or threats among residents
- that management ensure the facility expands its written guidelines on reporting criminal offences committed by residents against fellow residents to the police with guidelines on when violence, threats and other abuse are to be reported to the police
- that management ensure the facility informs residents in writing – in a way considered relevant by management – about the facility’s guidelines on reporting criminal offences to the police and that being reported to the police for committing a criminal offence may have a negative impact on the possibility of having a residential care order relaxed or discharged
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The police detention facility in Vejle
Police detention facility particularly for persons who are unable to take care of themselves due to intoxication and who have been encountered in a dangerous situation by the police
DIGNITY participated
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The monitoring visit did not give rise to any recommendations. |
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'Svendborg Arrest'
Local prison particularly for persons remanded in custody during investigation of their case
Talks with 9 users
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management ensure non-Danish-speaking inmates are offered addiction treatment (pre-treatment) on an equal footing with Danish-speaking inmates
- that management ensure interpreters are used when necessary, including at arrival interviews
- that management ensure the culture according to which it is not acceptable to call a prison guard in the evening or at night in order to use the toilet is changed, and that management ensure inmates who call a prison guard at night in order to use the toilet wait the shortest possible time – and not more than 20 minutes – except under special circumstances
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'Snåstrup Vestergaard', Aarhus
Municipal social residential and occupational facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 3 users and 3 relatives etc.
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management ensure that sub-targets and initiatives which are necessary for and part of crime prevention measures are described in the facility’s targets based on crime prevention targets in the municipality’s action plans for residents
- that management establish the possibilities for relevant addiction treatment which takes the needs of oligophrenic persons into account
- that management ensure pedagogical efforts have more focus on preventing drug abuse
- that management try to establish who the residents’ social guardians are, for instance by contacting the court
- that management ensure the facility gives residents’ social guardians any information necessary for them to carry out the function of social guardian adequately
- that management ensure documentation in relation to leave (leave records), with details of, among other things, starting and end time, whether escorted or unescorted and whether any problems arose
- that management ensure staff are instructed in the content of the provisions of Part 24 of the Social Services Act on use of force and other restrictions and of the provisions of Part 24 d of the Act on restrictions which may be taken against persons placed in a social residential facility under a residential care order, and that in this connection management consider, among other things, drawing up directions on use of force
- that management ensure a greater focus on precise and adequate documentation in reports on use of force and other restrictions under the Social Services Act
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'Nørholm Kollegiet', Herning
Four units of a regional social residential facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 6 users and 7 relatives etc.
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management ensure, in a way which it considers relevant, that measures are taken against residents who do not comply with the terms for leave and that these measures are documented
- that management ensure, in a way which it considers relevant, that staff know how to handle situations in which residents return from leave under the influence
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The police detention facility in Aarhus
Police detention facility particularly for persons who are unable to take care of themselves due to intoxication and who have been encountered in a dangerous situation by the police
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- that management ensure that, in accordance with section 14(2) of the Executive Order on Placements in Police Detention Facilities, persons placed in the facility are checked on in person following the medical examination
- that management ensure the Danish Medical Association’s form for medical examinations is used
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'Botilbuddet Sødisbakke', Mariager
Regional social residential facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 4 users and 8 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management ensure residents are informed about the facility’s policy on what is reported to the police, and that management inform residents – in a way which it considers relevant – that being reported to the police may have a negative impact on the possibility of having a residential care order relaxed or discharged
- that management ensure guidelines are drawn up on prevention and handling of suicides, suicide attempts and self-harm and on how to analyse the causes of the incidents
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'Jyderup Fængsel'
Open prison for men with closed section for women
Talks with 19 users
DIGNITY and IMR participated
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- that management ensure inmates are informed about guidelines on prevention of the spread of infection and about restrictions on their rights etc. on account of COVID-19 in a language which they understand in order that all inmates will receive adequate information
- that management ensure the time an inmate has been temporarily excluded from association prior to placement in a disciplinary cell is deducted from the length of time the inmate is to spend in the disciplinary cell
- that management ensure staff offer inmates in disciplinary cells the possibility to spend at least an hour daily in fresh air, cf. section 43(3) of the Sentence Enforcement Act
- that management ensure healthcare staff are able to get an overview of all exclusions from association and disciplinary cell placements and the expected duration of disciplinary cell placements
- that the directions regarding copying of medical records be adapted to be in line with the prison’s practice and so that uniformed staff do not have access to health information which they are unlikely to need
- that focus be increased on passing on requests from inmates to speak with a doctor or nurse directly to relevant healthcare staff
- that focus be increased on the practical handling of medicines by prison guards, including that healthcare staff be informed in the event of unintended incidents in this connection in order that they will be able to follow up
- that management – if necessary in cooperation with the Regional Office and the Department of Prisons and Probation – ensure that female inmates in need of addiction treatment who cannot be transferred to round-the-clock treatment are offered the necessary outpatient treatment instead
- that management draw up a procedure to ensure that any needs of inmates as a result of impaired physical functioning are taken into account
- that management ensure unauthorised persons will not be able to see sensitive personal information about other inmates in the office
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'Fonden Sparta', Sunds
Private social residential facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including persons under a residential care order
Talk with 1 relative
DIGNITY participated
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- that management draw up written guidelines on when criminal offences are reported to the police
- that residents be informed about the facility’s policy on what is reported to the police, and that management inform residents – in a way which it considers relevant – about the possible consequences of being reported to the police, including that this may have a negative impact on the possibility of having a residential care order relaxed or discharged
- that management ensure suicides, suicide attempts and self-harm are recorded with a view to analysing patterns and causes
- that management ensure guidelines are drawn up on prevention and handling of suicides, suicide attempts and self-harm
- that the facility’s house rules be updated to be in line with its practices and to clearly state which rules are only applicable for residents under 18 years of age
- that the facility’s directions on use of force and its safety manual be updated to be in line with the applicable rules of the Social Services Act and to clearly state which rules are applicable for residents over 18 years of age
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'Behandlingscentret Hammer Bakker', Vodskov
Municipal treatment centre for adults with mild intellectual and developmental disabilities coupled with psychiatric disorders and/or severe emotional problems, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 7 users and 3 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management draw up local guidelines on use of force
- that in future management record and keep statistics on the incidence of violence and threats of violence among residents, and that the statistics be analysed on a continuous basis to find causes and patterns
- that management ensure residents are informed about the facility’s policy on what is reported to the police, and that management inform residents – in a way which it considers relevant – that being reported to the police may have a negative impact on the possibility of having a residential care order relaxed or discharged
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'Ekkofonden', 'Alternativet I & II', Hjørring
Private social residential facility for adults with substantially and permanently impaired mental functioning, including persons under a residential care order
Talks with 3 users and 4 relatives etc.
DIGNITY participated
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- that management ensure guidelines are drawn up on staff assisting residents with handling their finances, including on the use of NemID (the digital signature which is used as a single login for public websites, online banking and many other websites and services in Denmark)
- that management ensure the facility has the necessary information about the criminal offences for which residents have been convicted and about the terms of their placement in the facility
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