At the LSS accommodation Safiren live children and young people who are so seriously ill that no other organization in the Stockholm region can offer them a home. It is about children who need medical care at all hours of the day. They get that at Safiren, which also coordinates school, healthcare, social services, transport and habilitation for the children and their families.
Safiren is run by Region Stockholm and has existed for 30 years, but now the home is threatened with closure. The decision is based on the fact that the region – despite repeated complaints – has neglected to save the excerpts from the charge and suspicion registers that, according to law, must be made when someone seeks employment in an activity that targets children and young people.
Ivo's decision has caused great concern among the children and their families and met with strong criticism from, among others, FUB, the national association for people with intellectual disabilities.
The region has appealed the decision, but Ivo was right in the administrative court. On Wednesday, the region appealed the verdict and hopes to have the matter heard in the Court of Appeal.
Now even regional politicians from the Moderates are reacting. In a letter to the regional board, the opposition regional councilors Axel Conradi (M) and Charlotte Broberg (M) demand an external and independent review of the reasons for "the shortcomings that underlie the decision to close operations at Safiren".
- Have we broken down in our routines so that we have in a rather nonchalant way disregarded the interests of these children by not following the law? says Axel Conradi.
- We have to get to the bottom of it. The second is to, based on those lessons, ensure that this never happens again.
At the same time, Axel Conradi wants to send a signal to Ivo and the court of appeals to show that Region Stockholm takes the issue very seriously.
- We have learned our lesson. We are prepared to draw the necessary conclusions. We are prepared to make the necessary decisions. But also send that signal in a clear way to these families and children. We are prepared to do what is required to secure your home, ensure your safety and your care. This is completely unacceptable, he says.
In their letter to the regional board, the Moderates also propose that the regional director be tasked with drawing up a contingency plan that will ensure that the children at Safiren receive safe and patient-safe care and care if the business is forced to close.
- If you are to make a hierarchy of values out of it: one, make sure that the children can stay - if that turns out to be impossible, we need to ensure equivalent care, accommodation and security in another place, says Axel Conradi.
Regional Councilor Robert Johansson (S) responds to the Moderates' letter in an email to DN. He notes that a closure of Safiren risks having "disproportionate consequences for the individual children and their families" and writes further:
"We share the Moderates' view that it is a serious situation and the region is acting right now partly through the appeal but partly also by ensuring that the correct procedures are followed to avoid similar situations in the future".
Regarding the Moderates' proposals for measures, the Social Democrats reply that the coalition, i.e. S, MP, C, L and KD, will take a position on the proposals when they are presented to the regional board.
