Child ministers swaying in "temporary protection" May 7, 17:46
"If a child is suddenly picked up ..." Some
parents may have such fear at the child guidance center (= child minister).
"Temporary protection" that separates children without the consent of their parents to protect their children's safety.
This is a strong authority given to the child minister, but it seems that many staff members find it difficult.
(Good morning Japan Director Yukiyo Nakamura / International Department Reporter Ayano Shirai / Social Department Reporter Atsumi Fujishima)
Relationship with parents collapses at once-Voice of the field
A woman who worked for a child minister in the metropolitan area.
Hoping to become a child welfare officer, I worked for three years, but left my job last year.
When asked about the difficulty of temporary protection, he said, "The relationship with the parents that I have accumulated up to that point will be destroyed."
The woman was helping a family with a girl with a disability.
The mother told the woman about her child-rearing concerns, and the relationship was good.
For this reason, women thought that they could support this family by using local welfare services.
However, at one point, my daughter complained that she was being beaten by her mother.
To what extent can the daughter's side speak accurately?
On the other hand, there is no evidence that the risk of abuse can be completely eliminated.
As a result, the child minister decided that "temporary protection was needed."
The woman was unforgettable when she handed her a notice.
The mother burst into tears when she saw the statement "The reason was physical abuse by XX (parent's name)."
A former child welfare officer woman,
"I think that the mother's feeling is that" this employee decided to temporarily protect her, and she was betrayed even though she believed that she was on her side for a long time. " Looking at the situation, I was filled with the thought "Is there any other way?" And it was hard. "
Hostility from parents
The woman who told me this story painfully understood the feelings of parents who were suddenly deprived of their children by temporary protection.
However, parents who feel that they have been "deprived of their children" can be hostile in many ways.
Former child welfare officer woman
"Some parents sit in front of the child
minister
and ambush the staff in charge after their child is temporarily protected. At the time of the interview, when the smartphone is placed on the desk, this exchange is recorded. I'm afraid that I'm doing it. In case I was sued, I avoided assertive words and tried to record the statements of myself and the other party in detail. At work, the proceedings insurance brochure is circulated. Was personally subscribed. "
Another child welfare officer in his thirties also testified that hostility from temporarily protected parents was a stumbling block.
Koshinetsu region Male in his 30s, child welfare officer
"I'll die as it is" and "I'll mess up your family" are threatened by parents about once a month. That's not the case, but some of my colleagues couldn't sleep because of it, and they were mentally distressed. "
"Intervention" and "support" "opposite face"
"Temporary protection" is one of the duties of the child minister stipulated in Article 33 of the Child Welfare Act.
It is an extremely strong authority that can be done without the consent of the parents if the director of the child minister deems it necessary to protect the safety of the child.
However, the work of the child minister is not limited to "intervention" like this temporary protection.
Rather, on a daily basis, we provide "support" services such as counseling parents who are having trouble raising children and helping with problems.
It seems that it is difficult to balance this "intervention" and "support".
When I asked the child welfare officer in his thirties, he said that it was impossible for the same person to do this "intervention" and "support".
Koshinetsu region Male in his 30s, child welfare officer
"Even though I was repeatedly consulted by parents about childcare and told me to do my best together until yesterday, a couple quarrel suddenly started in front of me and I became a child. If there is a danger, you have to take temporary protection on the spot, but if you are in the position of a parent who is suddenly deprived of a child, anger is natural. Why are we like this? I have no choice but to explain carefully whether it was necessary to take action. "
Increasing "intervention"
Following a series of abuse cases, the aspect of "intervention" is increasing year by year.
The Child Abuse Prevention Law enacted in 2000 strengthened the authority for on-site investigations of child ministers, and the 2007 amendment introduced a "on-site search" forcibly entering with the permission of the court.
In addition, the 2019 amendment included separating the staff in charge of "intervention" and "support", but due to the difference in the size of local governments, there are child ministers who are in charge of the same staff. about it.
This seems to be effective, but in reality it doesn't seem to be that easy.
Employees must discuss with their parents to consider whether the child can be returned home after temporary protection, but it is extremely difficult to restore a once-broken relationship. ..
The stronger the legal authority of the child minister, the greater the difficulty.
I need "experience" and "skills" ...
Both "support" and "intervention".
What is needed for the child minister's staff who are required to take such difficult measures?
The former director of the child minister in the Chubu region says:
Former director of the child minister
"Ensuring the safety and security of children is a top priority, and the ability to properly exercise legal authority and intervene is required. However, many temporarily protected children return to their homes again. That's why the child minister must improve the "quality of support" after the intervention. Intervention and support seem to be contradictory, but as long as both sides are required, each "skill" is necessary. "
A child welfare officer who has more than 10 years of experience as a child minister in the metropolitan area said the same thing.
Child Welfare Officer
"I think that both support and intervention are skills that are originally required for staff. Even if the relationship is persistently built with the guardian, and in the unlikely event of temporary protection, the relationship is about to break. , Must be rebuilt. To that end, staff need “experience” and “skills”. ”
"Experience" and "skill" pointed out by the two.
However, this was the problem that children's ministers across the country were most worried about right now.
"Majority" is inexperienced staff
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to increase the number of child ministers nationwide in an attempt to stop the occurrence of abuse cases.
In line with this, each local government is striving to secure human resources.
As a result, the recruitment of new employees has increased, and the composition of staff is biased toward staff with less experience.
According to a summary by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, "child welfare officers" who have been working for less than three years account for the majority of the total.
The former director also talks about the actual situation.
Former director of the child minister
"There are many young people who are worried about building relationships with their parents because their parents say,'What do you know when you are young?' And'I have never had a child.' I also handle sudden phone calls and night shifts at night. Then, no matter how motivated I get a job, some employees burn out after about 5 years. When I get married and think about my family Some people had no choice but to change departments from the child minister because they couldn't do it even if they wanted to continue working. "
Newcomers suddenly become the front line
In that case, I think that training for young people is important, but when I interviewed the child minister, I heard that the curriculum for making new staff full-fledged was insufficient.
It is said that there are not a few local governments that are newly hired and inexperienced staff can not afford to receive thorough training, and even newcomers are put on the front line of the field as soon as they are assigned and are entrusted with many cases. ..
It sounds good to learn by practice, so-called OJT, but as a result, young people are thrown into the field where difficult steering of support and intervention is required without acquiring specialized knowledge and skills. It seems like.
Experts warn against this situation.
Associate Professor Suzuki
"The work of the child minister requires a very high level of specialized skills that if one step is wrong, it can be fatal to the child. However, a newcomer who does not have specialized knowledge or experience suddenly stands on the scene. The reality is that it is "reckless." Just as police and firefighters have schools for training, child ministers can spend more time devoting themselves to training. A training period is required. "
Your voice
Child abuse is increasing year by year.
Correspondingly, the child minister was tasked with the opposite difficult tasks of "support" and "intervention."
However, many of the current child minister's staff seemed to be overwhelmed by their daily work and could not afford to accumulate their skills.
These problems may be related to other organizations, but I think that the work of the child minister, in particular, is directly linked to the lives of the child and cannot be overlooked.
Please let us know your opinions.
News post
Please write "#Children" when posting.
Good morning Japan director
Yukio Nakamura
Joined in 2015
After working at the Kitakyushu and Fukuoka stations, we have been
covering
"Good morning Japan"
social disparities and
child poverty
since last year.
International Department Reporter
Ayano Shirai
Joined in 2014
After working at Gifu and Nagoya stations, she is
currently affiliated.
Social section reporter
Fujishima Yutakami
2013. He joined
Kochi stations, Kumamoto station,
through the charge of the Metropolitan Police Department
is currently mainly
covering the education and welfare