Implementation of the Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2012 Visits to social care institutions (nursing homes) In 2012, the following nursing homes were visited: Polzela Nursing Home (“Polzela NH”), Črnomelj Retirement Home (“Črnomelj RH”), Lucija Retirement Centre (“Lucija Centre”), Izlake Elderly Home “Polde Eberl Jamski” (“Izlake EH”), Predvor Retirement Home (“Predvor RH”) and Rakičan Elderly Home (“Rakičan EH”). During the visits, the following was particularly commended and highlighted: within a report regarding the visit to Lucija Centre: • communal rooms of the centre and the garden which are all neatly arranged; • the fast response of a male nurse to an alarm bell, • cleanliness of the department, both the rooms and sanitary premises; • consistent recording of complaints, comments and appeals by means of a computer register, thus enabling transparency and traceability of procedure regarding the settlement of complaints; within a report regarding the visit to Izlake EH: • commitment to the permanent presence of an employee in the high level supervision ward at night time since the institution plans to rearrange the premises of the high-level supervision ward which would enable the constant presence of an employee in this department at night time; within a report regarding the visit to Preddvor RH: • very neat brochures on the history and activities of the home for the elderly which adequately present the life in the centre, and may be used as a model. The institution regularly publishes a newspaper Klas and has a very interactive presentation on the world wide web; • constant training of the staff, both internally and outside the institution; • the nursing home’s internal instructions for night duty stipulate that it is organised so that one person (a nurse or a caregiver) is present at the high level supervision ward for most of the time of the night shift, except during the night round and when conducting physically more demanding procedures where the simultaneous presence of two persons is required; • involvement of volunteers in working activities with the residents of the nursing home and the commitments of the establishment seeking to attract, motivate and educate volunteers with experience of existing ones was welcomed; similarly, a brochure produced by the nursing home on the topic of volunteering. These brochures may also function as an invitation to the institution’s residents to take part in individual groups taking place inside the nursing home and are run by volunteers; National Preventive Mechanism in the Republic of Slovenia under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 77