Warning issued to Sairila children’s home in Mikkeli over staff training and supervision issues
The Eastern Finland Regional Administrative Agency issued a warning to the Sairila children’s home located in Mikkeli, one of five state-run facilities in Finland. The warning highlights that some staff members lack proper training and that the personnel-to-child ratio is inadequate.
Concerns were raised by both the welfare authorities of Vantaa and Kerava, as well as the city of Helsinki. The specialized care unit accommodates children aged 12 to 18 for a maximum of three months, specifically those whose behavior poses significant risks to their development or well-being. An inspection by the agency took place in May, revealing that staff members struggled to understand and anticipate the behavioral issues stemming from children’s unique needs during challenging interactions. Feedback from the children indicated that they felt their supervisors lacked understanding of their circumstances.
Sairila has 24 placement spots and employs around 70 professionals across social work, health, and education sectors. The director, Päivi Kinnunen, noted that the different interpretations regarding staff qualification levels for night supervision contributed to the warning. Some supervisors only possess basic training, such as that of practical nurses or youth workers, while the agency’s assessment suggests that they should hold higher-level qualifications.
To meet the agency’s requirements, Sairila has temporarily closed one of its units. Furthermore, the agency observed extensive surveillance in communal areas including dining rooms and hallways. Sairila defended its use of surveillance as a means of protecting both children and staff in situations that might require police intervention. However, the agency contends that child protection units should resemble a home-like environment, recommending instead an increase in staff presence rather than reliance on monitoring systems. According to Kinnunen, the surveillance has now been removed from communal spaces.