When will my child be placed under supervision?

Application for a child supervision order

Families experiencing parenting problems are usually referred to local help organised by the municipality at first. In cases of domestic violence and child abuse, Veilig Thuis may also be involved. Veilig Thuis or a youth care agency will offer your family assistance, where possible with the support of your social network. The aim is to solve the problems with your voluntary involvement.

If this approach is unsuccessful, or if you or your child do not accept assistance, the youth care agency will refer your case to the Child Protection Board (the board). The board will assess whether your child's development is at risk. If it is, the board will ask a children's judge to issue a supervision order.

Decision by a children's judge to issue a supervision order

At a hearing, the children's judge will ask your opinion on the supervision order. If your child is 12 years or older, the judge must also ask him or her to give their opinion. The judge may ask children younger than 12 year their opinion, but this is not obligatory.

If a children's judge has ruled that your child should be placed under supervision, a certified agency will implement the order and appoint a family supervisor. This assistance is mandatory, so you and your child must accept it.

Until the end of 2014, children came under the supervision of the Child Protection Board. On 1 January 2015, responsibility for implementing supervision orders imposed by the children's judge was transferred to municipalities. Municipalities make agreements to this end with certified agencies responsible for child protection measures in their region.

Help from a family supervisor

If a court imposes a supervision order, a family supervisor from a certified agency will be assigned to you. The supervisor will support your child and help you resolve the problems.

You will retain parental responsibility for your child, but you must accept the help and support of a family supervisor in parenting your child. This means you are still responsible for the care and parenting of your child. The family supervisor will offer you guidance, which you are required to accept. The purpose of the supervision order is to allow you to regain fully independent responsibility for parenting following a period of supervision.

Duration of the supervision order

The children's judge will decide how long the supervision order will apply to your child. An order can be imposed for up to 12 months. The judge can extend the order repeatedly, by up to 12 months each time. Supervision orders can be issued for children up to the age of 18.

Care orders for children under supervision

Your child will most likely continue to live at home while the supervision order applies. But in some circumstances it can be better for your child to live elsewhere, for example in a children's home or with a foster family. If that is the case, the family supervisor will ask the children's judge for permission to remove your child from the family home.

If your child is at immediate risk, they will need to be removed quickly. The children's judge may in such cases issue an interim supervision order at the board's request. The judge will authorise a certified agency to remove your child from the family home.