Government will not advertise Children and Family Agency director’s post

The Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs has decided not to advertise the post of director of the Children and Family Agency, mbl.is reports. Ólöf Ásta Farestveit’s current term expires on January 1, but it will be extended for five years from that date.

If the position had been advertised, Ólöf would have had to be notified six months in advance, by July 1. However, no one may be appointed director more than twice.

Former Minister of Education and Children’s Affairs Ásmundur Einar Daðason appointed Ólöf director when the agency was established on January 1, 2022. It took over the responsibilities of the Child Protection Agency and was also intended to play a key role in implementing integrated services to promote children’s wellbeing. Ólöf had served as acting director of the Child Protection Agency since September 2021.

Criticism of implementation

The so-called Child Wellbeing Act was intended to promote children’s wellbeing and ensure that children and parents could access suitable, integrated and continuous services without barriers. However, it has not produced the intended results since entering into force nearly five years ago.

A critical report by the National Audit Office, published in June after an administrative review of the law’s implementation and enforcement, said the legislation had secured neither increased prevention nor early support for children. Inadequate preparation before the law was passed had negatively affected its implementation and enforcement, the report said.

The report said the Children and Family Agency had focused on implementing first- and second-tier services for children and their families. Implementation of third-tier services, specialised support for children with the most serious problems, was less advanced.

As a result, groups of children with serious problems still do not receive integrated services to the same extent as children with less serious difficulties. The report specifically mentioned children with multiple and complex problems, children dealing with substance abuse, foster children and children with disabilities.

“The National Audit Office considers this situation unacceptable, as these are children who have the greatest need for integrated services,” the report said.

Implementation of the legislation was intended to take five years, but the National Audit Office said it was clear that the process was far from complete and that it was unclear when it would be finished.