Child protection is a professional service with a good purpose – podcast
Helena Unnarsdóttir, Head of Child Protection at Hafnarfjörður, is in the Vitan's chat seat this week. Helena and her colleagues in the child protection department manage an important service for the local authority, which is focused on strengthening families in their parenting role and applying measures to protect individual children where necessary.
Helena Unnarsdóttir, Head of Child Protection
Hafnarfjarðar, is in the Vitans chat seat this week. Helena has been a resident
has lived in Hafnarfjörður since the age of twelve and is incredibly fond of his town and
A local community. Helena and her colleagues at child protection oversee important
a service from the local council aimed at strengthening families in
in their role as a parent and apply measures to protect individual children when it
It applies.
By its nature, the service can be controversial and many who have
strong opinions on the handling and resolution of matters. Especially on large and
difficult issues that tend to end up in public debate and possibly one-sided
the case takes centre stage. The vast majority of child protection cases conclude successfully and
parents/guardians are often not ready to „graduate“ after
guidance and advice where appropriate and adapted resources have been provided.
A strong and close relationship is formed between the parties involved, and it is particularly rewarding.
for staff to watch children and families flourish after
„graduation“. Overall, her feeling is that matters have become more complicated and
more difficult.
In this interview, Helena tells us about the process that takes place.
in place when a notification is received by the child protection board. Weekly meetings mark the position.
for notifications and whether a case proceeds to investigation and is then registered as a child protection case. Then
involves a specific process which includes, amongst other things, analysis, data collection, and implementation
on adapted solutions and aftercare. In the programme, she also tells us a few
miracle stories, as child protection workers prefer to call them.
Interviews with interesting people
individuals who work for the benefit of the municipality
In The Lighthouse, interesting individuals who work are interviewed.
for the benefit of the town. Thus, the municipality's services are addressed, an interesting topic.
development projects and challenges in a diverse range of fields. The podcast opens with more detail.
Coverage of individual projects, services and issues that are much in the news.
each time. All episodes of Vitans can be accessed on the website.
in Hafnarfjörður, but also on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Simplecast.
and Podcast Addict.