4.6 V  isits to residential treatment institutions, youth homes, and the work centre In 2017, the NPM visited four institutions accommodating children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural disorders and with special needs, i.e. Višnja Gora residential treatment institution; Črna na Koroškem Special Education, Work and Care Centre; Kranj residential treatment institution; and Planina residential treatment institution. All visits took place in accordance with the NPM’s visit plan for 2017. All the visits were a repeat regular visit10, with the NPM checking the observance of recommendations which had been provided during the last visit and the living conditions of children and adolescents. We also checked the circumstances which are important for the final assessment of cases of possible ill-treatment, punishment or even torture. All four visits were unannounced. During these visits, the NPM made 48 new recommendations and repeated individual recommendations which had not been implemented since the last visit11. The response to our preliminary reports on the visits allows us to establish that the institutions visited have accepted the majority of the recommendations (26) and one third have already been implemented (12). As at the time of preparing this report (31 January 2018), we are still waiting for the response to the preliminary report on the visit to Planina residential treatment institution; we still do not know whether the institution has accepted or implemented the new recommendations (5) made at this year’s visit. The members of the visiting group, consisting of the Ombudsman’s representative and two representatives of NGOs, held a discussion with the management of the institution, which was followed by an inspection of the premises and the surrounding area. The majority of the time was spent in discussion with the children, adolescents and staff, and in monitoring the dynamics in residential groups. We also observed direct educational work, examined the institution’s documentation and randomly selected personal files of children and adolescents, and observed the conduct of teachers and other staff. In all cases, the initial findings and recommendations were provided to the management of the institution after the discussion. The visiting group then prepared a preliminary report with findings, recommendations, and commendations. The institutions were asked to study the preliminary report and, once receiving their response12, explanations were included in the final report, which was sent to both the institution and the competent Ministry. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport (MIZŠ), the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MDDSZ)13, and the Inspection for Social Affairs14 responded positively to our recommendations and accepted the majority of them. Total number of all (new or repeated) recommendations Accepted Rejected Implemented No data No response yet 48 26 2 12 2 5 10  The visits are usually implemented every two years. 11  Individual recommendations which were made during the visit to residential treatment institutions are provided below as an example. The others are or will be available on the Ombudsman’s website after receiving the response of the institutions visited or the competent ministries: http://www.varuh-rs.si. 12  We are still waiting for the response of Planina RTI. 13  Črna na Koroškem Special Education, Work and Care Centre. 14  Which was sent the report on the visit to the Črna na Koroškem Special Education, Work and Care Centre. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2017 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT 77