fundamental and human rights �.� national preventive mechanism against torture target has been promoted by making consultation visits to other units and proactively increasing resources for potential crises (7007/2017). Outdoor time Taking care of the basic needs of an individual with intellectual disabilities includes ensuring a sufficient amount of exercise and outdoor time. The interviews of clients and their next of kin indicated that the time spent outside by the clients was not always recorded in the daily logs. The NPM also discovered that outdoor time could be systematically restricted at the beginning of the examination or rehabilitation period. The Ombudsman stressed the significance of spending time outdoors on a daily basis for the high-quality care referred to in the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients. Providing sufficient time outside is a part of caring for the residents’ basic needs and, thus, respecting their human dignity. The Ombudsman recommended including the time spent outdoors in the resident’s care and service plan and recording its daily realisation in the customer’s documentation (7007/2017). The joint authority reported that, in the future, the time spent outdoors by the clients would be recorded in their personal rehabilitation plans. The clients’ outdoor time and possible refusal to go outside will be clearly recorded in the daily logs. Opportunities to spend time outdoors will be offered on a daily basis. Interviewing clients and their families The interviews of the clients’ families indicated that the families were not always satisfied with how the residential unit staff had consulted them on matters related to the client’s care. Furthermore, the discussions revealed a general uncertainty regarding the practices in the residential unit and the practical contents of the child’s rehabilitation. In the Ombudsman’s assessment, the cooperation between the residential unit and the families of its residents had not been realised in the best manner possible. The Ombudsman recommended that the residential unit should pay more attention to this aspect in the future (6421/2017). After the visit, a family member of a client sent a letter to the Ombudsman, expressing shortcomings experienced by the family member. The rehabilitation unit was notified of the contents of the letter for the purposes of the evaluation and development of its operations. Development of the client feedback system was an item in the development plan included in the unit’s self-monitoring plan. The Ombudsman encouraged the unit to develop its client feedback system further (7007/2017). After the visit, the unit submitted a report stating that the organisation had developed a uniform feedback system. The unit gathers continuous feedback from clients and their families into a feedback log, which is reviewed at the workplace meeting on a weekly basis and taken into account in operations. Feedback is also collected with a dedicated form. Stakeholders and the people close to the residents are encouraged to give feedback. Use of security guards The residential service unit of a private service provider employed a round-the-clock security guard service. According to the staff, the guard could be called if a client behaved in an inappropriate or threatening manner, e.g. due to intoxication, and would not leave the common area when requested. The staff stated that the guard could use physical force to take the client to his or her own flat, for example. If illegal intoxicants, such as drugs, are found on the resident, the police is called. The report provided after the visit specified that the guard service had been acquired for the safety of the staff. The guards could assist in calming clients down by their presence. However, they were not entitled to use physical force to guide clients to their flats. The unit’s service manager indicated that the purpose and authorities of the guard service would be reviewed with the staff. 115