Alarm at youth welfare offices

“The welfare of the children is massively at risk”

In the opinion of youth welfare offices, the welfare of children is at risk.(Bild: canva)

Due to a severe staff shortage, the youth welfare offices in Salzburg are now resorting to emergency measures. There are problems with the care of children.

Protecting children and young people is the job of Salzburg's youth welfare offices. This is apparently no longer possible across the board in the province of Salzburg. As became known on Thursday, the first self-reports from youth welfare offices have been made to the state of Salzburg. Those responsible there indicate possible serious damage to children, young people and their families. The employees of some youth welfare offices are permanently overworked.

This leads to serious delays in maintenance payments and delayed or no help from social workers. As a result, minors have to be placed in institutions more often.

22 additional posts are required
The difficult situation was already made public last year. The situation is getting worse, according to reports from youth welfare offices. Among other things, there are more reports from nurseries and schools now that more social workers are working there. Trade unionists are sounding the alarm in view of the self-reports. "In 2023, there was a study with representatives from specialist and personnel departments and experts, which came up with 22 additional full-time posts needed," criticizes trade unionist Josef Sailer.

Since then, nothing has happened on the part of the state, criticizes the parliamentary group - which massively endangers the welfare of the children. Salzburg is understaffed in child and youth welfare compared to other federal states. The savings of 100 posts in the state service are also already making themselves felt.