Institutions for persons with disabilities
are affected by violence should be provided with accessible information in
simple language, peer counselling inside and outside the facility as well as
customised therapy services. Easy, barrier-free access to victim support facilities
must be guaranteed.
Another important factor is that staff are sufficiently trained in violence
prevention and can avail of supervision. Commissions recommended installing
an emergency call system, which requires sufficient staff during the night and
effective communication channels. Such a system should be a component of
general emergency planning and not only be restricted to violent incidents.
Personnel training
is essential
Ultimately, the measures taken when violence is used must be made
unequivocally clear to violent clients. The availability of pertinent therapy
offers is particularly important in this context. Many of the suggested measures
can help both the victims and the perpetrators.
What is crucial for the success of these measures is that the preventive approach
is implemented on all levels and safety aspects are considered in all activities.
As a consequence, clients with a high potential for aggression and violence
are only admitted if the respective facility is prepared for potential risks by
means of safety management.
The NPM would like to emphasise that the main responsibility for fulfilling
these requirements is with the public sector. In practice, it is often the case that
only few shared accommodations or sheltered workshops are willing to admit
clients with a high potential for violence because the risk appears to be too
high for them.
Public sector responsible
for providing offers
The lack of suitable alternatives is also “homemade”, as clients with a high
potential for aggression are passed from facility to facility. Instead, it is
necessary to create stable conditions with increased staffing. In a privately
run facility in Lower Austria, clients were repeatedly expelled from the facility
in spite of being in fulltime care according to notification from the supervisory
authority. Those affected were “suspended” because of violent incidents and
threats, and were homeless for some time as a punishment because they have
no family ties. The facility failed to observe the procedure that is in place when
clients can no longer be cared for: the Land Government was not informed
of the sanction in advance. Discharging persons with disabilities from care
without ensuring an alternative is, in the view if the NPM, a serious violation
of human rights. This is regardless of the kind and severity of the incidents
leading to expulsion.
Suitable and trained staff, adequate rooms and external support services can
only be guaranteed with the corresponding financial resources. These funds
must be made available.
Sufficient funds must
be available
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