Steinbjørn Hardlei steps down as head of Faroese child welfare coordination

Steinbjørn Hardlei has resigned as director of the Faroese Barnaverkætlanin (Child Welfare Coordination), national broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya reports. The decision follows his own request and is not linked to any misconduct or dissatisfaction with the role.

Hardlei, who has led the coordination unit since May 2024, will continue as an advisor to the project, reporting to the new director. His departure is unrelated to the upcoming Faroese parliamentary election, for which he is standing as a candidate for the Tjóðveldi (Republic) party.

The coordination initiative, launched to improve collaboration between child welfare agencies, will continue under new leadership. Synnøve av Rana took over as director on 1 March, having previously served as the unit’s communications officer since January 2024—first in a temporary role and later in a fixed-term position from June 2024.

The core objective of Barnaverkætlanin is to eliminate barriers between agencies to ensure integrated and coordinated services for children. The project involves the Child Protection Agency, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Justice, the Ministry of Children and Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture, and the Faroese Association of Local Authorities.

A new government will also take responsibility for the initiative, with plans to establish a unified Child and Family Unit within the Child Protection Agency by the end of the year.