Child protection: what is the status of the investigation?
In September, the children entrusted to three family assistants, who had been employed by the local authority for several years, were taken away from them. They called in a solicitor, while the local authority referred the case to its legal department. There are two conflicting versions of events.
We reported on the tense situation within the Child Welfare Service in our columns last December. As a reminder, in November, the service's employees exercised their right to withdraw their labour. This was the second time this right had been exercised in 2025 within the same service. For family assistants, the successive and persistent interruption of relationships between parents and children in care raises questions about the "best interests of the child" as guaranteed by the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Indeed, maintaining personal relationships between a child and their family is a fundamental principle of child protection. However, tensions began on 24 September, when the children entrusted to these foster carers were removed from their care during what was initially a routine appointment.
The foster carers sought legal advice
They were told that they would receive an explanation within eight days. Finally, on 2 October, they learned that the procedure was part of a month-long investigation – with no impact on their remuneration. They were assured that this was not a procedure to withdraw their accreditation.
Five months after this famous "meeting", they say they still have no information about the outcome of the proceedings. They therefore called in a solicitor who, in a letter dated 9 January, asked the local authority for "transparent explanations about the situation, the reasons for and the framework of this withdrawal procedure" as well as the payment of unpaid salaries. The remaining salaries for October, November and December were paid, but the January salary was again reduced.
Furthermore, they point out that there is no regulatory text providing for a one-month investigation procedure allowing the removal of children entrusted to a foster carer without a formal decision, without prior information to the person concerned, without a defined legal framework and whose duration could be extended indefinitely without communication to the agent concerned.
They therefore called on a solicitor specialising in administrative law, who sent the local authority a claim for compensation on 3 February, i.e. a formal notice as a last attempt at an amicable settlement. In the absence of a response and concrete action, they indicate that they will bring the case before the administrative court.
Reports leading to the investigation
As the family assistants have called in lawyers, the case is now in the hands of the local authority's legal department. When questioned, the local authority stated that the family assistants had been informed of the situation and that individual meetings had been arranged with each of them.
Furthermore, the Collectivité confirmed that an investigation had indeed been launched following reports from children in their care. The procedure was followed and, after these initial interviews, hearings were also conducted with socio-educational professionals from outside the Collectivité as part of the investigation. The investigation is now closed. The investigation report will soon be sent to the family assistants' lawyers, the Local Authority assures us.
However, as the allegations of abuse are particularly serious, it states that, if the facts are confirmed, it does not intend to leave it at that, given the involvement of children. The proceedings will therefore continue and, given the seriousness of the allegations, a report under Article 40 may be considered.
With regard to the service, the Collectivité assures that the staff have returned to work since 12 February and that it is now fully operational.
