Crevits taps the Growing Up Agency on the fingers after incident in Veurnse crèche

The Growing Up Agency was aware of a house search about the shelter in Veurne. The fact that this information was not shared with the minister is unacceptable to Crevits. “I am very unhappy with the way this has turned out. The Agency has apologized for that as well.”

Research into abuses

Kind en Gezin, part of the Growing Up Agency, withdrew the permit of a childminder in Veurne on Tuesday after it became known that the court is conducting an investigation into possible abuses. A little boy ended up in hospital a few weeks ago after being violently shaken. An investigation is underway against unknown persons, so it is not clear whether the child was injured by the childminder or elsewhere.

Also in March 2020, a baby, cared for by the same childminder, ended up in hospital. The investigation at the time did not clarify where the child had suffered the injury. Minister Crevits confirmed in the Flemish Parliament on Tuesday that the childminder concerned is on the list of childcare initiatives that have been re-evaluated in recent weeks. This evaluation concerned initiatives that were still open after Kind en Gezin had presented itself as an injured party to the police or the public prosecutor in recent years.

Labeled as safe

Kind en Gezin’s final conclusion was: the initiatives involved have taken measures to ensure safety. “I note that this is not correct,” said Minister Crevits. According to the CD&V minister, the childminder in Veurne was colored ‘green’ and was labeled as safe. But on 7 June – before the evaluation was handed over – Kind en Gezin was searched about the shelter in Veurne. The court then asked not to communicate or take any steps. But Minister Crevits believes that the Agency should have informed her about this. “I’m taking this seriously,” it sounds.

“We understand the minister’s questions and concerns. We emphasize that, as soon as we have received all the necessary information, we have immediately canceled the childminder’s permit,” the Growing Up Agency stated in a short response on Tuesday evening. CD&V MP Katrien Schryvers finds the new file “hallucinatory”. She does not understand that after the earlier complaint in 2020 no flashing light remained on. On Friday, Katrien Verhegge will visit the childcare inquiry committee. There she will probably be questioned about this file by the MPs.