Crisis in youth services: ver.di demands prompt measures taken immediately
In North Rhine-Westphalia, youth welfare offices are grappling with increasing demands and complexities in their work, particularly due to the rising number of psychologically affected or traumatized children and youth, often with intricate social and mental health needs [1]. This surge is partly attributed to the influx of refugees.
Staff in these offices work in multiprofessional teams, providing individualized support. However, the high demand and complexity indicate a need for more resources and improved working frameworks [1]. Demands for improvement include better staffing to manage growing caseloads, enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, and potentially more favorable working hours, as part of a broader call to strengthen social and child welfare services.
There is also emphasis on social space-oriented approaches for preventive and supportive help, such as those being implemented in places like Arnsberg from October 2025, aligned with modern concepts of social work [4].
The situation has led to concerns from trade union secretary Philipp Stewart at ver.di in North Rhine-Westphalia, who warns that this state cannot continue [5]. He points out that youth welfare offices are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers in child and youth welfare.
Current working conditions are dominated by acute child protection cases and overwhelming bureaucracy, leaving little time for preventive work [6]. Time for further training or supervision often falls by the wayside, severely endangering the functionality of youth welfare offices [6].
To address these issues, ver.di demands sustainable improvement of framework conditions to guarantee the task of protecting and supporting children, young people, and families in the long term [7]. They urge the state government to take immediate steps to improve working conditions in youth welfare offices, acknowledging that the increasing caseloads, growing demands, and high turnover are worsening the long-standing shortage of skilled workers [7].
In addition, clear concepts and appropriate guidance are necessary for new colleagues, with mentors eligible for a bonus and additional time allowance [8]. Regular supervision and expert advice are essential for better coping with psychological and professional demands [9].
The pressure is causing many employees to reduce their working hours or leave the youth welfare offices altogether [6]. Improved framework conditions are crucial to guarantee the task of protecting and supporting children, young people, and families in the long term.
References: 1. Structural reforms in North Rhine-Westphalia 2. Structural reforms in North Rhine-Westphalia 3. Professional associations and experts advocate for clear minimum standards 4. Modern concepts of social work 5. ver.di trade union secretary warns of unsustainable conditions 6. Current working conditions in youth welfare offices 7. ver.di demands for saving youth welfare offices 8. Onboarding and qualification 9. Supervision and expert advice
- The increasing demands and complexities in youth welfare offices, driven by the rising number of psychologically affected children, necessitate improved working conditions, such as better staffing, enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, and more favorable working hours, as part of a broader effort to strengthen social and child welfare services.
- Multiprofessional teams in these offices aim to provide individualized support, but the high demand and complexity suggest a need for more resources and improved working frameworks to address the growing caseloads, and improve the functionality of youth welfare offices.
- To effectively cope with the psychological and professional demands in the workplace-wellness domain of youth welfare offices, mentors should be eligible for a bonus and additional time allowance, and regular supervision and expert advice are essential.
- In the context of social and child welfare, there's a call for lifelong-learning and education-and-self-development, with an emphasis on clear concepts and appropriate guidance for new colleagues to ensure the ongoing health-and-wellness of children and families, and to mitigate the impact of traumatic experiences.
