The Vanguard Method in youth protection wins award
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.