A working group set up by Finland's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health suggests reconsidering the child welfare client ratio regulation that limits social workers to a maximum of 30 children.
In a report released by a working group appointed by Finland's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, there are recommendations to review the existing client ratio regulations for child welfare services. Currently, social workers in child welfare are responsible for a maximum of 30 children, a regulation that has only been in place since 2024. The aim of this regulation was to ensure that social workers have enough time to attend to the needs of each child appropriately.
The working group's report does not provide explicit guidance on how these changes should be implemented but opens the door for either eliminating or loosening the ratio in further preparations. This discussion follows a public outcry triggered by the tragic case of an 8-year-old girl named Vilja Eerika, who was found dead after suffering chronic mistreatment, despite several notifications to authorities about her situation. As such, any changes to the ratio could spur significant public concern and debate over the protection of vulnerable children.
Moreover, the report indicates that while the client ratio has likely had positive impacts on employee retention and recruitment within child welfare services, the working group suggests that the regulation might also be considered a potential cost-saving measure. This implies a complex interplay between financial considerations and the obligations to safeguard children's welfare, emphasizing the need for careful assessment of any changes in policy that could affect vulnerable populations.
