Faroese child welfare agency reverses decision on controversial foster care transfer

The Faroese social services agency Almannaverkið will review its decision to relocate a foster child from Tórshavn to Sandur following a critical assessment by the parliamentary ombudsman, the agency confirmed Wednesday.

The ombudsman ruled in April that the transfer—executed without proper procedural safeguards—violated administrative law. Hjørdis S. Mortensen, director of Almannaverkið, declined to comment further but acknowledged the agency would reassess the case in light of the ombudsman’s findings.

The dispute centers on the agency’s December notification to the child’s guardians that the foster placement would be moved. While Almannaverkið maintained the decision was a routine operational adjustment tied to repurposing the Tórshavn facility, the ombudsman determined it constituted a formal administrative act requiring consultation, justification, and avenues for appeal.

In May, Ruth Vang, a parliamentarian with the Progress Party, submitted a written query to Margit Stórá, minister of social affairs, demanding clarification on whether the transfer would be invalidated and what alternative arrangements would be offered. In a June 2 response, Stórá confirmed Almannaverkið had accepted the ombudsman’s conclusion and was preparing a new decision. She added that the agency would also evaluate whether other families affected by similar transfers to Sandur should receive comparable reviews.

Stórá’s statement noted that Almannaverkið continues to address the matter internally.