VISITS BY THE JOINT COMMISSION 6 – CHILD AND YOUTH WELFARE FACILITIES 6.1 – VISIT TO GAUTING HOME FOR GIRLS IN 2012 Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Families and Women The Joint Commission visited Gauting Home for Girls on 28 November 2012. The facility accommodates girls between the age of 12 and 17 who have refused or evaded all previous educational or therapeutic measures. The home can accommodate 42 girls in its closed wing, which was under full occupancy at the time of the inspection visit. The Joint Commission inspected the closed wing, including rooms, group rooms and the kitchen, the “time-out room”, the therapy room and the courtyard. It talked to the head of the facility, plus two heads of department. In addition, it talked to members of the girls’ council. The head of the facility and the head of the trauma group were on hand during the Joint Commission’s entire visit. Gauting Home for Girls has two so-called “time-out rooms”. It is only in exceptional cases that both rooms are used simultaneously, which is why only one of them is always kept ready for immediate use. It has a mattress with a fitted sheet and a blanket. The ceiling light is dimmable and there is a large window which lets in natural light. The room has no call system; however, a member of staff must always be present in the adjacent duty room whilst a girl is in the time-out room – if need be even overnight. Nevertheless, it is not possible to see into the time-out room from the duty room. It should also be noted that the window in the time-out room does not fit seamlessly into the wall. These two observations give rise to doubts as to whether it can be ruled out at all times that a girl placed in the room will not attempt suicide. The Joint Commission recommends monitoring the girls placed in this room for a time-out period by means of continuous, direct personal supervision by a member of staff (a measure known as “Sitzwache”). The presence of a member of staff in an adjacent room, who may possibly be resting on the couch in that room, is not sufficient. Response: A technical call system is not necessary because there is an opening in the wall between the time-out room and the duty room measuring approx. 40 x 40 cm. This means communication is possible at all times without the need for any technical measures. However, the facility will remove the doorknobs on the inside of the door as quickly as possible so as to eliminate the risk of injury. The member of staff on call in the duty room must keep any girl placed in the time-out room under constant observation. The expert must regularly fill in monitoring sheets, even at night. Requiring continuous, direct personal supervision of the time-out room by a member of staff is regarded as sensible where there is the risk of self-harm, and this will be implemented accordingly in future. Other more suitable forms of observation must be used where there is the danger of a girl harming others. Since the person monitoring the time-out room can only see into the room when standing up – because of the position of the glass in the door to the room – the facility is examining whether and to what extent a CCTV camera system can be installed. The supervisory authority will raise this issue again during the next inspection visit. Some of the therapists in Gauting Home for Girls also have the authority to act as heads of department. 6.1.1 – Positive findings The Joint Commission is pleased to note that the relationship between the girls accommodated in the facility and the staff appears to be very good. The residential groups in Gauting Home for Girls are furnished in a very homely and friendly manner and they contribute to the very good atmosphere in the facility. All the common rooms which the Joint Commission saw were in perfect condition and very clean. The girls’ rooms are large enough and appropriately furnished, and girls are allowed to personalise their rooms. The Joint Commission regards as especially positive the fact that the group rules, house rules and a separate information booklet provide the girls with information about their rights in an age-appropriate manner, and that the language used is friendly, polite and clear. This is evidence of the respectful tone used towards the girls. In addition, all the information regarding rights and duties is accessible to the girls at any time. The Joint Commission in particular regards the list of rights as exemplary. Further, the Joint Commission would also like to mention the very successful and highly differentiated therapy and treatment concept applied in the facility, which the psychologist elucidated. According to the head of the facility, cooperation with the psychiatric clinic works well. 6.1.2 – Recommendations of the Joint Commission and response of the Bavarian 91