The lack of interest to the child by the mother was found as well. However, the action plan
states as a long-term objective "the child's reintegration in family environment –
adoption". Short-term objective 2 states "Preparation of the child for reintegration in
family environment through adoption“.
The NPM's opinion is that immediate steps should be undertaken for unification of the
practice related to the inclusion in the full adoption registers for children, the parents of
whom have not made an effort to improve the family environment or, in certain cases,
have even not contacted the children within 6 months as of their placement in the HMSCC.
The unification of the practice of the social workers in this respect is also important.
There are cases when consecutive protocols for review of the child's action plan state as
an objective "reintegration in the biological family", but they do not mention any specific
steps taken and whether any results have been achieved in this respect, in order to justify
the decision to continue the work towards the reintegration.
Living conditions and care provided by the institution
The living and accommodation conditions at the HMSCC in 2013 meet the requirements
for the raising and provision of specialised medical care of children aged between 0 and 3.
Most homes are split into four groups, separate residential blocks in spacious buildings
are formed. Each home has an acceptance – quarantine section with an isolation unit in
case of emergency placement. There are enough and well equipped bathrooms,
rehabilitation halls, psychomotorics halls, study rooms, space for meetings with relatives
/ adopting parents. There are day centres for children with disabilities established within
most homes.
An exception are the homes for medical social care in Sliven and in Kardzhali. During the
inspections the NPM found that the physical assets in both homes are aged and funds for
repair and replacement of the window frames should be extended. The space in the rooms
is insufficient given the number of the children. 15 children are accommodated in one
premise in the HMSCC in Sliven. In some of the groups there is no separate canteen, the
playrooms and awake-time halls are also not enough. No devices facilitating the
movement of children with difficulties in the motion (platforms, elevator) have been built
at the HMSCC in Sliven. The NPM team believes that in view of providing individual care
for the children the capacity of the home should be reduced gradually. The fact that the
total number of the children using various services during the visit of the NPM team to the
above mentioned home significantly exceeds their capacity is alarming. The capacity at
the HMSCC, Sliven is 60 beds, while in February 2013 67 children are placed there. The
capacity of the HMSCC, Kardzhali is 84 beds and 106 children are placed there as at 30
June 2013.
Access to training and education
The NPM once again found controversial practice with respect to the inclusion of the
children from the HMSCC in the educational process. For example, the NPM's inspection of
the HMSCC, Gabrovo showed that there are no children visiting nurseries or
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