Implementation of the Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2012 During the visit to the Veržej boarding facility, it was established that one of the minors being committed to educational training should not have been accommodated in this institution since the facility is not listed among establishments implementing such a measure. It was proposed that the accommodation of the minor in question be provided for by the institution (in collaboration with the responsible Centre for Social Work) which would be compliant with the provisions of the ZIKS-1. Staffing and residential conditions and NPM recommendations Taking into account standards and norms specifying conditions of work with young people experiencing emotional and behavioural disorders, the number of professional staff in institutions visited was appropriate, and so also was their type and level of education. They are experts holding a university degree in the fields of social pedagogy, psychology, or social work, and other staff are additionally trained to work with this population. During the visits, it was noticed that obtaining the supplementary qualification in social and pedagogic science poses a problem since the Faculty of Education had not made this type of educational programme available for several years. That is why it is recommended by the NPM as being urgent. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports explained in its reply that they agreed with the recommendation and that several initiatives had been addressed to the Faculty in this regard. In all the three institutions visited (Jarše Juvenile Home, Črna na Koroškem Training, Work and Care Centre and Veržej Therapeutic Boarding Facility), the amount of space and fittings were appropriate, whereas in Smlednik Residential Education Centre Fran Milčinski, it was noticed that the furniture in the accommodation areas and rooms of minors was rather worn out. That it is why the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has been asked by the NPM to ensure financial funds for their repair and renewal. The recommendation was accepted by the mentioned Ministry which committed itself in its response report to strive to ensure provision of the appropriate financial funds as soon as possible. Activity performance – praise and recommendation by the NPM In order to reduce the fear of institutional life in all of the institutions visited, a presentation of an individual facility of a residential community is made available to the minors and their parents. The institutions which were visited also have publications with essential information on their work at their disposal. Informational material is also published on a web site of each individual institution. Some deficiencies and obsolete information were observed in some cases and the management of the institutions visited was warned about it accordingly. These responded adequately to recommendations by the NPM and they amended missing or out-of date information within a short period of time. It had also been proposed by the NPM that institutions hold an interdisciplinary discussion on the need to establish a triage diagnostic centre (“a transitory juvenile facility” as known in the past) to accommodate young persons for a short period of time during the first phase of their referral to an institution, specifically from three to four months. It is the NPM’s position that, observing and understanding an individual’s personality, will make the decision about which institution to place an individual in easier and more professionally based. An individual educational programme, together with activities aiming at successful personal development, is usually developed for each adolescent by responsible persons in the institutions visited within a few days of a young person’s admission. Based on randomly inspected personal files of adolescents, it was established by the NPM that the personal documentation of young persons is kept in a quite exemplary way. However, in relation to the individual plan, the NPM made a recommendation to institutions that it be signed by the minor in question, in addition to the principal, as this would give an adolescent the appropriate recognition and greater responsibility for his/her participation in the training and educational process. 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 121