“We’re still trying to believe it”, child protection in Montpellier adrift

The staff of the Children's Home denounce deplorable reception and working conditions. Free Midi – ALEXANDRE DIMOU

Mattresses on the floor, poor psychological monitoring… Child protection executives from Hérault gathered in front of the department's hotel this Tuesday, February 6 in Montpellier. They denounce harmful reception and working conditions.

This Tuesday, February 6, around a hundred executives and employees of the departmental child protection service gathered in Alco, in front of the hotel department, to denounce working conditions that do not protect young people in distress. "Children sleep on sofas in hotels without adequate psychological support", denounces Sylvie, a specialized educator in Montpellier.

Since the health crisis, the reception conditions for placed children have been constantly deteriorating, "We have recovered children from Covid who were not placed on time, with significant pathologies but the number of places and staff has not changed, says a social worker indignantly. "We have an obligation to welcome the children of the department and this is our core business. But we cannot do it in these conditions, without medicine, premises, or means,” she concludes.

If everyone loves their jobs, some are gradually losing faith in their mission of protection. "When we see the current situation, we wonder if our profession still has an impact", regrets Victoria, from “foyer de l’childhood”. "We try to believe it, to continue to protect these children as much as possible but it’s regrettable to find ourselves here", she concludes.

Managers and employees hand in hand

Microphone in hand and chanting the demands of all the departmental child protection staff, Benjamin Karchen, general secretary of the CGT, does not hide his anger.&amp ;nbsp;"A kid waiting for placement cannot wait until the next day to be helped. We are asking for an emergency plan with additional resources, an compensation plan for all assistants, whether they are category C or B, explains the executive, in solidarity with his teams. ;nbsp;