After Ivo’s review of LSS accommodation, where 80 out of 90 examined accommodation had deficiencies, both the responsible minister and several organizations are now reacting.
– It is about a betrayal of a vulnerable group of people, believes Anders Lago of the organization FUB.
Ivo’s review shows, among other things, that residents of LSS accommodation are in some cases locked up and monitored and tapped around the clock. Anders Lago, chairman of FUB, which works for children, young people and adults with developmental disabilities, reacts strongly to the review.
– I feel both sad and angry. We are not talking about many people, there are around 40,000 people who live in group housing in the country. Sweden as a rich country should be able to afford a good life for those people, he says.
Together with, among others, the municipal trade union, the organization has requested an increase in knowledge among the government’s staff. Something that he sees as the basis for a large part of the problems at the housing units inspected.
– It is an underfunded activity with too few resources. The staff certainly do their best, but many lack training and competence and there are too few of them. Another problem is that there are few or no present managers on site, he says.
He calls for political will to change the situation.
– It is a big betrayal of the small group of vulnerable people who find it difficult to make their own case, he says.
Lack of knowledge the basic problem
The responsible minister also reacts to Ivo’s review.
“What has come to light is extremely serious,” says Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M) in a written comment to TT.
According to Ivo, the basic problem concerns a lack of knowledge both among staff at LSS accommodation and at management level, something that has been established for a long time.
When asked what the government is doing about the problems, the minister points out that municipalities and private contractors are responsible for following up the quality of the activities – and that they are obliged to report misconduct according to Lex Sarah.
She also emphasizes that Ivo should “give the guidance the municipalities may need”.
“Not surprised by the review”
Municipal chairman Malin Ragnegård is not surprised by what Ivo’s review has shown.
– Unfortunately, this is not news. The question is why is it not going in the right direction when we hear the same criticism from different quarters repeatedly?
She also believes that the staff must receive training for the job but also more resources to be able to do a good job.
– Working in an LSS residence is a nursing profession and then you should have an education either as a nursing assistant or assistant nurse. We would have liked the elderly care lift to also apply to LSS staff, she says.