Last year, the national summary found that the number of consultations and reports received by municipalities nationwide regarding abuse at facilities for persons with disabilities was a record high of more than 2,900.
Of these, more than 400 cases have not been investigated by local governments, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare says that it may lead to overlooking abuse.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, last year, municipalities nationwide received 2912 consultations and reports from family members and facility staff regarding abuse at facilities for persons with disabilities, which is 2912 cases, which is 95 more than the previous year. It has become the most since I started taking it.
As a result of investigation by the local government, the number of persons with disabilities who were determined to have been abused increased by 156 to a record high of 890, of which one man in his 40s died.
On the other hand, 437 cases, which is 15% of the consultations and reports received by municipalities, were not investigated within the last fiscal year.
The reasons are 57% for "apparently not abusive and no investigation is necessary" and 21% for "whether an investigation is planned at a later date or whether an investigation is necessary".
The largest number of cases not surveyed by prefecture was Tokyo with 62 cases, followed by Osaka prefecture with 38 cases, and Kanagawa prefecture and Aichi prefecture with 30 cases each.
Looking at the percentages that were not surveyed, Miyazaki Prefecture had the highest ratio at 39%, followed by Nagasaki Prefecture at 37%, and Toyama Prefecture and Nara Prefecture at 28%.
Gifu prefecture, Tokushima prefecture, and Saga prefecture were all investigating.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, "There are individual circumstances, but the more cases that have not been investigated, the more likely it is that abuse will be overlooked. I would like you to fully consider whether this is a case that does not really need to be investigated."
Former employee "The report was not investigated by the local government"
Last year, he was a former employee who witnessed a user being hit by another employee several times at a facility for the disabled in the Kanto region where he worked.
The camera at the facility also showed the user being kicked in the lower half of the body.
However, even if I told the person in charge of the facility, no improvement was seen, so I notified the local government and submitted the camera image.
At this time, the person in charge of the local government explained, "I have just arrived and cannot judge whether it is abuse. I will report it to the prefecture, but I do not know if I can investigate."
After a few months, there was no evidence that the investigation was conducted, and the former staff left the facility and the users moved to another facility.
Regarding the investigation, the guidance of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare stipulates that interviews with the parties concerned are required, but according to the mother of the user, there is still no contact from the local government, and interviews with the person and family have not been conducted.
Her mother told NHK, "Before I left it at the facility, it was difficult to appeal directly, so I wanted the local government to investigate. However, even if I told him to investigate, he did not respond. I don't know what to do. "
In addition, a former employee of the facility who made the report said, "I have done what I should do, but I feel really angry with the local government. I want you to respond with an emphasis on speed."
Expert "The local government should conduct a principle investigation on the premise that there is abuse ahead of the report."
Naoki Sone, a member of the committee that is commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to conduct research and research on the prevention of abuse of persons with disabilities and is familiar with the welfare of persons with disabilities, said, "Investigation among local governments. "There may be differences in the criteria for determining whether or not a person with a disability is required." As a general rule, local governments should conduct research on the premise that there is. "
Regarding the background that the survey has not been conducted in all cases, "The survey takes a lot of time and manpower. Since the staff of the local government is dealing with other tasks, I am busy when I think that it is not serious. It is conceivable that you do not have to conduct an investigation because of this. Also, since there are few reports in local governments with a small population, it is not that you do not know the method of investigation even if you receive a report. Is it? "
He also points out that "it is necessary to have local government employees acquire the know-how of interview surveys through training, and to create a system that can be supported by people with specialized knowledge on a daily basis."