Norwegian authorities – does NAV take into account the needs of children when parents apply for financial social assistance?
Almost 70 children live in families that benefit from financial social assistance. Nav has a duty to best understand, assess and care for children's needs when parents apply for social assistance. The audit shows that Nav does not sufficiently recognize these needs.
What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that authorities have a duty to help children through their parents. Convention of Rights Child protection is Norwegian law. To comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the governing authorities must make it easier for parents to provide for their children and provide resources to ensure good living conditions for children. People dealing with matters relating to children must also always consider what is best for children.
In practice, this means that Nav has a duty to know, assess and care for children's needs as best as possible when parents apply for social assistance. An important part of the survey and assessment is also to clarify what the children themselves think. Children's own opinions can help determine what is best for them.
NAV inspection by the Norwegian authorities.
Norwegian authorities carried out a nationwide inspection and checked whether NAV offices take children's needs into account. The inspection shows this
- Nav offices do not adequately map children's needs when parents apply for financial assistance social
- NAV offices do not make proper assessments and decisions when applying for financial social assistance for families
- management and control in municipalities is failing
The Norwegian Health Authority, summarizing the inspections carried out, states that there is a need to present to employees Nav specific directions mapping and assessing children's needs in applications for financial social assistance.
Norwegian authorities – does NAV take into account the needs of children when parents apply for financial social assistance?
Directorate of Labor i Social Welfare prepares guidelines on how Nav staff should assess children's welfare. Norwegian Office Health hopes that the Director will contribute to ensuring assessment and safeguarding children's needs to a greater extent extent than is the case today.
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