According to the inspections, the problem does not lie with the employees. Youth care workers and foster care counselors struggle with heart and soul, show great involvement and are often appreciated by children and parents.
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The system itself fails: there is too few staff, too little appropriate help and too little control. Municipalities sometimes determine which care is used from cost consideration, even if certified institutions advise a different process.
The result is that children hardly see their youth protector, get help too late or at all and sometimes get completely out of the picture. Already in 2019 the inspections warned that the youth protection chain was in danger.
“The bitter and bitter conclusion is that there has been no improvement for the children in six years,” says Hans Faber, Chief Inspector of IJenV. “Children don’t get the help they need, and young people in the youth rehabilitation often fall back in crime.”
Foster care is also under pressure. After the horrible abuse of the Veefgirl Vlaardingen, the IGJ took a closer look at foster care providers. The Inspectorate finds structural shortcomings: insufficient insight into the development and safety of children, inadequate cooperation between authorities and not following guidelines.
Changes of youth care workers and foster care counselors make contact with children and parents, and appropriate help is often missing. As a result, children stay in unsafe situations for a long time, despite the fact that the juvenile court has imposed protective measures.
Consequences are poignant
The consequences are poignant. Geoffrey was not allowed to see his children for a year and a half after a divorce because agencies sought out in endless investigations and contradictures. Emma moved seven times in six months through changing guardians and care providers, without anyone taking control.
Jordi saw his brother Wesley sliding down a serious offense in GGZ for many years of waiting list, while he and his brother did not get appropriate help because care providers exchanged job. The problems have seriously affected the trust of children and parents in the assistance.
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The inspections warn that temporary solutions are no longer sufficient. The individual institutions can make improvements within their sphere of influence, but the system problems require structural solutions.
Only strong leadership of directors, municipalities and responsible ministers can still improve. Angela van der Putten, Chief Inspector of the IGJ, states: “There is insufficient insight into the safety of children. Only an decisive approach can break the impasse.”
No solution in sight for the time being
For the time being there is no solution in sight yet. “The problem is too great for this,” says Faber, who also wants to tell agencies honestly that under the current circumstances they cannot do their task to protect and guide families on behalf of the government insufficiently. To children, parents, municipalities and the judge. The latter often makes decisions about care measures that the authorities often cannot implement due to the problems.
The inspections make another call to the state secretaries of justice and safety and of youth, prevention and sport to come up with energetic and sustainable solutions. “Solid leadership is needed,” says Van der Putten.