Extremely high workload

Social workers sound the alarm: “The system is collapsing!”

Mental illnesses in children have been on the rise for years.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/stock.adobe.com)

Child and youth welfare workers are under extreme pressure, many are throwing in the towel and new staff are hard to find: Politicians are now called upon to act, otherwise the system threatens to topple.

A desperate child who simply can no longer stay with his family - because it is too dangerous there. Calls to various aid organizations, often without results and with rejections: No, unfortunately, we don't have a place available. "We still have to decide what to do with the child. Sometimes the last option is to get in the car and drive to another federal state. If, exceptionally, there is still capacity there."

When employees in official social work - better known as child and youth welfare - talk about their day-to-day work, it quickly becomes clear how stressful and demanding the job is and how high the pressure is. Their priority must be the well-being of the girls and boys. Verbal attacks and even threats from parents are often unavoidable.