InsoFa (Specialist with relevant experience in cases where a child’s welfare is at risk)
Service description
Experts in this field are qualified and experienced educational professionals who can assist you in assessing whether a child’s welfare is at risk.
Here’s how InsoFa can help you:
InsoFa
- advises you on risk assessment
- helps you to organise your observations and thoughts, even in complex cases
- takes the pressure off you when you’re under intense pressure to act, are emotionally involved, or there’s disagreement within the team
- helps you prepare for parent-teacher meetings and involves the child or young person
- is familiar with local support services
The term ‘risk to a child’s welfare’ is a legal concept of indefinite scope. Where the term ‘children’ is used here, it naturally also refers to young people. In order to establish a risk to a child’s welfare, there must be ‘substantial evidence’. These are factual circumstances which – if not averted – are highly likely to cause ‘harm’ to a child in the foreseeable future. This harm may relate to the child’s physical or mental well-being, or to their continued healthy development. There are facts which, taken on their own, constitute such compelling evidence. Sometimes, however, ‘minor’ issues, when taken together, pose a risk to a child or young person. Each situation must be assessed on a case-by-case basis and often appears vague at first. The context must be taken into account.
Various forms of child abuse pose a risk to a child’s welfare. In most cases, a combination of forms occurs; the distinctions between them are blurred:
- Psychological or emotional abuse
E.g.: Children are belittled, threatened, exploited, isolated, made to feel unloved, or witness domestic violence - Physical abuse
E.g.: Children are beaten or physically abused in other ways - Sexual abuse
E.g.: sexual acts are carried out on or in front of children, often by exploiting children’s love and trust
neglect. Example: children’s physical, emotional and cognitive needs are not met; children are not supervised in a manner appropriate to their age and abilities
Procedure
- Please contact InsoFa to arrange an appointment.
During the counselling session, please do not disclose the name of the child or young person concerned.
Together, you will gain an overview of the evidence, risks and resources, consider different perspectives and reach a joint assessment of the risk.
InsoFa can help you find ways to involve children, young people and their carers.
By the end, you will have an idea of which measures are necessary and appropriate to safeguard the child’s welfare.
New findings can always lead to a reassessment of the situation and a revised risk assessment.
Prerequisites
Who can apply for an InsoFa?
Professionals who provide services under youth welfare legislation are obliged to consult an InsoFa if they become aware of a potential risk situation (Section 8a of Book VIII of the Social Code). This applies, for example, to staff working in outpatient, semi-residential or residential youth care, in childcare centres, in voluntary all-day schools or in support services for people with disabilities, as well as to educational specialists. Other individuals and professional groups who come into contact with children and young people in a professional capacity may also seek advice from an InsoFa (Section 8b of Book VIII of the Social Code).
This includes, amongst others, staff in:
- Educational institutions, e.g. teachers, headteachers
- Health and medical professionals, e.g. doctors, nurses, midwives, psychotherapists
- Counselling centres for various issues (addiction, migration, pregnancy-related conflicts, domestic violence, etc.)
- Facilities / services for postnatal recovery
When should I apply for an InsoFa?
- If you are unsure how to interpret your observations
- If there are strong indications and you wish to or are required to carry out a risk assessment
You can still make use of the InsoFa counselling service even if you already know that support is being provided to the family – for example, by the youth welfare office. Your own observations and perceptions are also important.
What fees are charged?
Counselling is free of charge.
What else should I know?
- The counselling sessions are confidential
- Personal data is anonymised
- Appointments are arranged as quickly as possible and as close to your location as possible
- Ongoing support, even over a longer period, is possible
- The responsibility for deciding how to proceed and organising the assistance remains with you
Applications / Forms