Accommodation conditions at the "Komanski most" Institution are good, the space in the pavilions and courtyard is pleasant to stay in, and the space in the rooms and other premises is adapted to the needs of the users of this institution.
During an unannounced visit by the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) team, which operates within the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, the beneficiaries of the Institution were found to have a neat and hygienic appearance - shaved, clean clothes and tidy. Therefore, the NPM, in its report, stated that it can be concluded that such a state of affairs does not represent a prepared situation, but rather indicates the Institution's constant efforts to ensure an adequate level of personal hygiene and tidiness of beneficiaries.
The report concludes that the Ombudsman's recommendation has been complied with, which is that the health and professional staff in the institution undergo training in the application of the De-Escalation Procedure, and that the institution accordingly adopts guidelines for calming down agitated users.
The institution was recommended to take measures to monitor and document all incidents of self-harm by beneficiaries, with an analysis of frequency and causes, so that the effectiveness of the applied calming and support strategies could be evaluated annually, and to take measures to support employees - including financial incentives, professional supervision and motivational activities, the effectiveness of which can be assessed through annual satisfaction surveys and monitoring of staff turnover.
"In 2025, only two cases of scabies were recorded among users, which is a very low number considering the specificities of collective accommodation and the continuous contact of users. This data further confirms that the institution attaches great importance to the hygiene of users, emphasizing the importance of regular hygienic care, monitoring of health status and the implementation of preventive measures, as even isolated cases in a collective environment can spread quickly. Therefore, maintaining high standards of hygiene and constant attention from staff is crucial for preserving the health and safety of all users," the NPM opinion states.
After an unannounced visit, the team also noted that working at the "Komanski most" Institute represents an extremely demanding and responsible task for all employees, including professional workers and medical staff.
"The work of caregivers is particularly demanding, as they perform physically and emotionally demanding tasks on a daily basis, caring for users with varying degrees of functional limitations, including immobile people and people with severe forms of intellectual disability or autism. Their duties include hygienic care, feeding, and providing constant care and attention, which requires a high level of professional dedication, empathy, and patience," the NPM points out.
The opinion states that they previously pointed out that social institutions that employ health personnel often have difficulties in retaining existing staff and reduced interest in new employment, which was associated with significant disproportions in the level of coefficients - the salaries of health personnel with the same qualifications in these institutions were lower than those of their colleagues in health institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health. With the adoption of the new Sectoral Collective Agreement for Social Work, which has been applied since April this year, the situation has, they claim, significantly improved.
At the time of the NPM's visit, the Institution housed 118 beneficiaries, while one, according to the statement, was receiving treatment at the Special Hospital "Dobrota". As part of the visit, the team visited Pavilion "A" in the Institution, which is intended for the accommodation of the male population, where they found 60 beneficiaries, and upon visiting the rooms, both common and sleeping, they noticed that hygiene was adequate, and in some common rooms there was new furniture.
The NPM notes that activities related to the departure of beneficiaries outside the institution (one-day and multi-day family visits) are organized in accordance with the Procedure on Visits and Prevention of Entry of Unauthorized Persons, as well as in cooperation with the competent centers for social work.
"Contact is also enabled via tablets in the form of video calls, as well as telephone calls. A special room is designated for visits in the Institution with the aim of ensuring the privacy of visits. As the team was informed, the users' trips outside the institution have intensified. During this period, users went on more walks accompanied by professional workers. Two one-day trips to the seaside were organized," the report says.
The NPM claims that the Institution's daily event book records unwanted situations that occur in the institution.
"The Protector reiterates that, especially in cases of injuries, it is of crucial importance to properly record all injuries to users and the manner in which they occurred - whether they are accidents, injuries inflicted by others or self-harm. Some users self-harm, which occurs as part of the clinical picture and can be present in people with developmental disabilities with associated neuropsychiatric disorders. Such behavior can be a form of expression of stress, frustration, anxiety or the inability to adequately verbally express needs," they explain.
They argue that it is therefore important for staff to continuously monitor signs of distress, implement adapted strategies and procedures, to ensure the safety and well-being of users, which they strive to do.
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