Child Welfare Assessment in the Home

Child welfare services have a duty to assess whether the child’s well-being is being safeguarded at home, and parents cannot refuse the assessment. However, both parents and the child have rights, and child welfare services must follow specific guidelines on how the assessment is conducted.

• A home visit takes place as a conversation in which both parents and the child participate. Parents are informed about the content of the concern and are given the opportunity to share their perspective on the family situation and their circumstances. The child must be allowed to express their opinions freely but only if they choose to do so.
• The investigation must follow a structured plan, and all assessments must be documented in writing. Parents must be informed of the conclusions reached by child welfare services. The home visit should be carried out with as little disruption to the family as possible and should not extend beyond what is necessary to determine the child’s situation.
• Child welfare services must take into account the family’s culture, ethnicity, language, and religion. They may require a private conversation with the child or, in some cases, request that the child undergo a medical examination at a hospital.

After completing the assessment, child welfare services will provide a written explanation of whether support measures will be implemented or if the case will be closed without further action.

Barnas barnevernsklage
Forandringsfabrikken

This is a legally mandated task. See barnevernsloven § 1-4, § 2-2 and § 2-5, 12-4 and 12-5, 12-6, 12-7 og 12-9 about appeals.

Barnevernsloven

If child welfare services issue a decision that you disagree with, you have the right to appeal. The appeal must be submitted to the child welfare office within three weeks of receiving the decision. In the appeal, you can explain what you are dissatisfied with and why you believe the decision should be changed. The appeal should be sent to child welfare services, but if your appeal is not upheld, the case will be forwarded to the County Governor, who will make the final decision.

Children who are in contact with child welfare services also have the right to appeal. Their appeal goes directly to the County Governor and can be submitted here:
 Klag direkte her.