GERMANY
also points to the importance of investing in
volunteer services and suggests ways to mo-
bilise community resources in the context of
comprehensive and integrated child protection
systems to ensure the successful social inclu-
sion of unaccompanied and separated children,
especially those turning 18. Lastly, it provides
specific guidance for local authorities on how
to set up an efficient volunteer guardianship
system to train, supervise and monitor all those
taking part.
MAIN STRENGTHS AND KEY CHALLENGES
Frequent communication and personal contact with children
Volunteer guardians have face-to-face meetings with children and
young people on a regular basis – sometimes daily –, while profes-
sional guardians employed by youth welfare offices meet with chil-
dren once a month as per legal requirements. Guardians employed
by youth welfare offices are responsible for up to 50 cases, whilst
volunteer guardians are usually assigned one to two cases. The
amount of time devoted to the young people in their care, frequent
face-to-face meetings and volunteer guardians’ personal involve-
ment in young people’s daily life contributes to the development of
a strong, personal, trust-based relationship. Such relationships have
been found to contribute to young people’s emotional development
and well-being.
Supporting young people throughout their everyday lives
Volunteer guardians tend to spend more time with the young
people in their care and sometimes extend their role and support
them in all aspects of their daily lives, whilst employed professional
guardians mainly deal with administrative procedures affecting
young people and will not meet with them outside of working
hours or during weekends. Volunteer guardians usually invest a
lot of personal time, become involved in joint leisure activities
with young people and use their private and business networks to
support them.
33