Written by Youth Protection Region Amsterdam (Jeugdbescherming Regio Amsterdam), working with Vanguard Netherlands, won ‘The best public sector organisation of the year 2014’.
The jury said:
“Youth Protection Region Amsterdam has made a profound change in its methods and culture with a lot of guts and passion. Passion, pride and professionalism in this organization is nicely connected.
This has led to a dramatic performance improvement and a big increase in well-being and professional pride of the staff. In a system that is grim, gripping and tough. The success achieved by contemporary mobilization of ‘bottom-up learning from the professionals.
The organization has become substantially cheaper and the quality of its performance has improved tremendously.”
Results summary:
60% reduction in ‘out of home’ placements, 50% less protective measures are now needed, 45% less probation measures are required and referrals to the service have fallen by 28%. Staff sickness has also reduced by 26%.
Further information:
On 27th January 2015, the annual Government Awards 2014 took place in the Hall of Knights in The Hague.
100 applications were received, 10 organisations were shortlisted, and 4 finalists were visited by the jury. The jury judged the award on the following criteria:
- mission enthusiasm,
- effectiveness,
- cost consciousness,
- reliability,
- expertise,
- openness,
- learning ability,
- good employment,
- resilience,
- and community involvement.
With a population of 1.4 million residents in Amsterdam, Jeugbescherming Regio Amsterdam support 6000 families and over 12000 children with child and youth welfare, protection, and probation.