THE NETHERLANDS
MAIN STRENGTHS AND KEY CHALLENGES
Participatory approach Child participation is a fundamental feature of the Happy Nest concept, and children are seen as agents of change and partners rather than clients. Children are involved in the design and implementation of activities and in the programme’ s daily work.
Child protection policy All Happy Nest staff and volunteers undergo vetting procedures: they are subject to checks by the Criminal Records Bureau and should obtain a certificate of good conduct in order to work with children. De Vrolijkheid has a child protection policy, and all its staff and volunteers are briefed on its content and must sign it. People who work with children are obliged by law to report possible abuse to the relevant child protection authority.
Training and professional supervision of staff and volunteers ICDI provides a mandatory three-day induction training course on the Nest model for staff and volunteers, as well as follow-up training and professional supervision. Staff and volunteer training is also provided by De Vrolijkheid. The ICDI and De Vrolijkheid training programmes focus on the methods and techniques for communicating with children from different cultural backgrounds and children who suffer from trauma.
Limited contact with the local community The movement of children living in gezinslocatie family centres is restricted and with the conditions at reception centres often becoming saturated. The Happy Nest programme seeks to encourage links with the local community, but in practice Happy Nests are part of the reception facility setting and do not have the power to change it. As a result, despite all efforts, children remain isolated and often have little or no interaction with the outside world and peers from the community.
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