Members of the children with disabilities facility in Thessaloniki[/B] have resigned[/B], following the results of an investigation ordered to the National Transparency Authority by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
It is recalled that the NAC proceeded with an inspection at the Care and Protection Facility for Children with Disabilities of the Region of Central Macedonia, following reports of serious incidents. One occurred in November 2021 when a 25-year-old disabled person was seriously injured and subsequently died in hospital.
One month later, in December 2021, in an incident between caregivers, one of them was seriously injured and was hospitalized in an ICU for a month. According to a statement by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The report found omissions and irregularities in the operation of the structure, which must be further clarified as soon as possible.
To this end, and in order to facilitate the investigation process, the resignation of all members of the Board of Directors of the structure was requested and received today. At the same time, the NCA is continuing its inspections of other structures. The protection of children and all beneficiaries is our priority."
It is noted that the National Transparency Authority, in its conclusions from the audit conducted in a Care and Protection Facility for Children with Disabilities of the Region of Central Macedonia, following the death of an inmate, states:
"Following publications in the press regarding an incident of serious injury of a resident in a Care and Protection Facility for Children with Disabilities of the Region of Central Macedonia and his subsequent death in hospital, a mixed team of inspectors of the NAD and Experts, Doctors and Social Worker, during the period from January 2022 to November 2022 carried out an ex officio audit in the specific structure, with the object, as far as the incident is concerned, to control the incident management actions by the administration of the institution and in general the quality and adequacy of the facilities, equipment and services provided by the audited institution.
Findings of the team during the on-site inspection:
There is no Operating Organization of the inspected institution, resulting in inefficiency and inefficiency at all levels.
The inspected facility provides for the admission of minors with multiple disabilities and their stay until the age of 25. However, eighty-one (81) inmates are accommodated, of which only nine (9) are minors.
Minors live with adults without provision for spatial separation and special treatment. A large number of residents were found living in the wards.
People with autistic spectrum disorders are also admitted to this facility, by decisions of the Public Prosecutor's Office. Particularly in these cases, it is necessary to provide special programmes for special therapies, speech therapy and special education, which are lacking.
There are very few cases of foster care and adoption.
The main shortcomings of the facility are the lack of human resources and the absence of systematic and specialised training of staff. There are persistent and serious shortages of specialised staff, particularly care staff, which, combined with the seriousness and complexity of the patients' situation, do not ensure safe living conditions, quality of services and make it difficult to provide a personalised approach/care for the patients. Occasionally, auxiliary nursing/care staff provide their services in double shifts with 16 hours of continuous work, in violation of the legislation in force[BR].
In November 2021, an incident occurred which resulted in the serious injury of a patient, who died in the hospital where he was hospitalised. With regard to the relevant actions taken by the management to assign responsibility for the incident, it was found that an employee was referred to the Disciplinary Board out of time. In December 2021, an incident between inpatients resulted in the serious injury of one of them and his hospitalization for one month in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Doubts were raised as to the management of the case, which was not reported to the control team even though the caregiver had died five days prior to the mixed team's visit. Furthermore, the incident and the death of the patient were not notified to the competent authorities as required by the relevant provisions. In private agreements of the institution with three (3) private physicians, their working hours were not specified and the terms of the private agreement were not complied with ,as two (2) of them were paid in excess of the specified amount. The doctors' attendance book was not kept in order to confirm their visits to the audited body.
The operation of a "Quiet Room" (reduced stimulation/isolation area) was found, which is not provided for in the existing provisions on the organisation and operation of the audited body.
The establishment does not have a Fire Protection Certificate.
In view of the above, the EDPS made proposals, inter alia, concerning:
The institutionalisation of scientific supervision and the definition of specifications (standards) for the case of mandatory certification of all child protection service providers;
The strengthening of the institution of professional fostering in the case of minors and adults with disabilities.
The report was forwarded:
To the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs with responsibility for welfare issues, for the implementation of the proposals and the search for responsibilities of the President and members of the Board of Directors of the audited body.
To the Board of Directors of the body for the implementation of the proposals.
To the Board of Directors of the body for the implementation of the proposals.
To the Public Prosecutor's Office for the criminal assessment of the findings in the audit report.
To the Labour Inspectorate for investigation of any breaches of labour legislation."
Source: in.gr
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