The Swedish National Board of Institutional Care

The National Board of Institutional Care (Statens institutionsstyrelse, or SiS) is an independent Swedish government agency that delivers individually tailored compulsory care for young people with psychosocial problems and for adults with substance abuse.

We provide care and treatment where voluntary interventions have proved insufficient and care on a compulsory basis is therefore necessary. Orders for compulsory care are made by the Administrative Court (Förvaltningsrätten), on the application of social services.

SiS runs special residential homes for young people (särskilda ungdomshem), which receive young people with psychosocial problems, substance abuse and criminal behaviour. Care is provided under the terms of the Care of Young Persons (Special Provisions) Act (LVU).

At some of these residential homes, we also care for young people who have committed serious criminal offences and who have therefore been sentenced to secure youth care under the Secure Youth Care Act (LSU).

In addition, SiS operates ‘LVM’ homes, which treat individuals with serious problems of abuse of alcohol, controlled drugs and/or prescription drugs. Here, care is provided under the Care of Substance Abusers (Special Provisions) Act (LVM).

The residential homes run by SiS are the only treatment facilities that have the right to forcibly detain individuals who have been taken into compulsory care.

The methods of treatment we use are backed by research. Our work is informed by high ethical standards and stringent safeguards for the legal rights of the individual.

As part of its role, SiS provides education for children and young people of school age who are receiving treatment in special residential homes for young people. We also offer education to young people above school-leaving age.

SiS initiates and funds independent research closely linked to its work.

SiS is supervised by a number of bodies, including the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Inspektionen för vård och omsorg, IVO), the Swedish Schools Inspectorate (Skolinspektionen) and the Parliamentary Ombudsmen (JO).