Up to December 17, 18 HVB homes have been assessed to have such serious deficiencies that they have been forced to close during 2024, according to a compilation by IVO, the Inspectorate of Healthcare and Social Services, on the country's HVB homes.
At the same time, an additional 120 homes are assessed to have such serious deficiencies that IVO requires the operations to take action.
Among other things, there have been instances of bullying, fights, and other types of threat and violence situations, both between residents and between staff and residents. There have also been suicide attempts, drug abuse, and open drug dealing on the premises.
Several homes have also failed to conduct background checks before hiring staff, which has resulted in young people being cared for by criminals.
"The children and young people placed in HVB homes often have a complex problem profile and are in a vulnerable situation. Therefore, the operations need to be safe and secure. But what we have seen in our supervision is that far too many HVB homes have extensive deficiencies," says Anna Karin Nyqvist, unit manager at IVO, in a press release.
An additional 77 homes have identified deficiencies but do not need to report actions.
HVB homes (homes for care or accommodation) are an institution within social services that receives young people for care or treatment. Many HVB homes are privately run.
The inmates of the homes are children and young people who have been taken into care according to the LVU (the Care of Young People Act) for example due to substance abuse or taken into care according to the LSU (the Secure Youth Care Act) after being convicted of a crime.
Sources: The National Board of Institutions, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, National Board of Health and Welfare
