National Preventive Mechanism necessary to support children and adolescents, a high percentage of whom suffer from traumatic disorders. „Hiving off“ has begun The regional government has reported that decentralisation of the youth home has begun and the first external shared accommodations have been created in surrounding cities. The NPM welcomes these changes. In Lower Austria, there are currently nine regional youth homes and 47 private contract facilities for children and adolescents. Additionally, there are 50 temporary places in six centres for crisis intervention, where minors can stay until a crisis diagnosis has been completed. Around 1,200 children and juveniles are under full residential care in institutions and facilities. Care provided by child and youth welfare organisations In March 2014, Lower Austria became the first Land to prepare a concept under scientific scrutiny for comprehensive and revolving planning of all measures for child and youth welfare and assistance. Social structures and special stressors for young people that lead to use of care provided by child and youth welfare organisations are mapped based on data and compared to existing services being offered. This will develop the (short-, medium- and long-term) requirements of a needs-based regional package of differentiated services. By now, it is undisputed in Lower Austria that large homes must be replaced by smaller regional “family-style” care facilities. Other Laender should follow this example. ¾¾ Smaller regional “family-style” care facilities should replace large homes. 2.3.4 Sexual self-determination requires protection After a visit in a group home, Commission 6 criticised that an adolescent who had been convicted of sexual abuse was permitted to occasionally spend the night in the same room with minors living there. In the opinion of the commissions, there were no safeguards. In the course of the thereupon initiated investigative proceeding, the Lower Austrian regional government reported that sexual workshops for children and adolescents were set up in the group home and staff also participated in them as part of continuing education. Upon the NPM’s request, the head of the facility was reminded that other children and adolescents must be prevented from spending the night in the room of the adolescent in question. Thereupon the facility made assurances that staff would in future handle this topic, which was also the subject of a separate retreat, more carefully and ensure that the residents spend the night in their own rooms. 116