Social care homes
In 2018 the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture visited
5 social care homes69.
Systemic problems
Regrettably, not all problems of systemic nature have been eliminated. Many
of them, despite being reported for many years, remain valid. The NMPT is still
awaiting proper legislative steps in that regard70.
THE PROBLEM OF SCH STAFF ACTING AS LEGAL GUARDIANS OF
INCAPACITATED PERSONS
One of the tasks of legal guardians should consist in monitoring whether
their wards are provided with due care in a given establishment and reside in
conditions that do not violate their dignity. In such a situation it is difficult for
social care home employees to remain objective. Furthermore, the performance
of the function of legal guardians by social care home personnel only adds to
their workload, which may compromise their free time and private life. It may, as
a result, lead to lower motivation to properly and conscientiously fulfil the duties
they had been entrusted with.
THE ISSUE OF CCTV MONITORING
The issue of installing CCTV monitoring, e.g. in common areas of the social
care homes, has not been in any way regulated in legal provisions. Yet, installing
cameras in these types of establishments may constitute intrusion into the privacy
of residents, employees and other persons on the premises of the monitored
facility. The application of such technological solutions should, thus, be clearly
regulated in an act. Lack of legal provisions regulating the application of CCTV
Jan Paweł II SCH in Piła (KMP.575.1.2018); SCH in Chełmno run by the Sisters of Charity of
Saint Vincent De Paul (BPG.575.1.2018); SCH in Ciechanów (ul. Krucza 32) (KMP.575.2.2018);
SCH „Kombatant” in Legionowo (KMP.575.3.2018); SCH in Zachcinek near Opatów
(KMP.575.4.2018).
70
On 30.01.2018 the Commissioner for Human Rights addressed the Minister of Family, Labour
and Social Policy with respect to the protection of the rights of social care home residents and
requested a stance on the existing systemic problems related to the operation of social care
homes; KMP.575.7.2016.
69
Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights on the activities
of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in Poland in 2018
45
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents