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.