National Health Act, 2003 (Act No. 61 of 2003)NoticesPolicy Guidelines for the Licensing of Residential and/or Day Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Illness and/or Severe or Profound Intellectual Disability16. Facilities and Infrastructure Norms and Standards |
| 16.1 | There must be a constant supply of running water and proper sanitation that meet environmental health standards. |
| 16.2 | The residential facility or day care facility should have a water reservoir with water to last for at least three days. |
| 16.3 | The facility must comply with National Building Regulations, contained in Government Notice R2378 published in Government Gazette No 12780 of 12 October 1990, with regards to ventilation and lighting. |
| 16.4 | The residential care facility or day care facility must have proper sanitation that complies with the environmental health standard. |
| 16.5 | The residential care facility or day care facility must have secure perimeter wall or fence to ensure safety and security. |
| 16.6 | Access to the facility must be security controlled. |
| 16.7 | The layout and design of the residential care facility must provide for sleeping areas, residential caretaker sleeping area, ablution, rehabilitation and recreation room, dining room, family visits room, medical procedures room, food storage /pantry, cooking area /kitchen, laundry, refuse storage area, storeroom, reception and administrative office. |
| 16.8 | The rooms should be well ventilated with lighting fittings. |
| 16.9 | Access to the facility must be non -discriminatory and be determined by priority of need alone. |
| 16.10 | Structural fittings should allow for access for people with physical disabilities. |
| 16.11 | Must protect users harming themselves /others or property. |
| 16.12 | The layout and design must allow for easy supervision and observation. |
| 16.13 | The layout and design should provide enough space for mobility to freely move within the facility. |
| 16.14 | The building must be maintained in a condition that fosters safety and meets all infrastructure standards in terms of the National Building Regulations, National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977) and the Health Infrastructure Norms and Standards Guidelines published in Gazette No. 38776 by notice No. R.414 of 08 May 2015. |
| 16.15 | The facility must provide for the privacy of mental health care users. |
| 16.16 | Electrical fittings should be in accordance with the provisions of the Health Infrastructure Norms and Standards Guidelines published in Gazette No. 38776 by notice No. R.414 of 08 May 2015. |
| 16.17 | Fire precautionary measures and management procedures should be in accordance with the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977). |
| 16.18 | Toilets, bathrooms and showers should provide privacy and safety. |
| 16.19 | All areas must be clean, safe and reflect as much as possible the preferences of the users living in there. |
| 16.20 | Separate accommodation must be provided for children and adults, if housed in the same facility, and provide for gender separation in sleeping and ablution areas. |
| 16.21 | The facility must have a functional telephone (landline or facility -based cellular phone). |