Youth and Social Services

Have you registered with the Area Team, specifically for youth and social services? Below you can read what you can expect from us.

Here's how it works:

Conversation with an admissions officer

Do you have questions about parenting, growing up, and/or social services (18+)? Then you can contact De Toegang. You will first have a conversation with an access worker. 

We will discuss the following:

What is the issue? What kind of support is needed? What has already been attempted? Who can provide support and in what way?

What is required?

The admissions officer will make arrangements with you regarding the next steps. For example, you may receive support from your own network, existing services, or you may be referred to the regional team.

Research

Are you registered with the Area Team? Then you will be assigned a permanent contact person. Together with you, they will investigate what is necessary and possible under the Youth Act and/or Social Support Act. Together with your contact person, you will look at how things are going now, what you want to work on, and how we can achieve this. Goals will be set for this.

Help to be deployed

Do you need help? Together with you, we will look for a suitable solution for your situation. We will draw up a Support Plan for this purpose.

Plan approved

In the Support Plan, we describe:

  • Your request for assistance
  • What is required?
  • Who's going to do this?

Do you agree with the plan? Then sign it and the Health can begin. If the Youth Act applies, you will receive a letter (decision) from us. 

Start

You will receive assistance and agreements will be made regarding evaluation.

Learn more

Below you will find more information about how to contact us and your rights in areas such as objections, complaints, record-keeping obligations, and the GDPR.

If you have questions about parenting and/or growing up, you can consult the internet at the following sites. A good website about parenting and growing up is www.opvoeden.nl. www.opvoedinformatie.nl may also be of interest.

Can't find a good, reliable answer to your question about your child's health on the internet? Or are you still unsure? Then ask the youth health care service. For questions about children up to the age of 4, please contact GGD Fryslan. If this does not provide a solution, or if there is something else going on, please contact the Opsterland Area Team.

Questions? Here are the directions

  • If you have any questions about parenting, growing up, or participating in society, you can ask the Opsterland municipal area team.
  • During the initial consultation, an access officer will work with you to identify the issues you are facing and what your question is. What are the possible solutions? Where do you need support?
  • But we also consider what you can do yourself and how people around you (such as family and friends) can help you. During the interview, the access worker will also explain what the next steps will be. How long this process will take depends on your situation. After all, every person and every request for help is different. Sometimes it is necessary to have more interviews or to conduct further research.

ID check

We ask you to bring valid identification with you on your first visit. If you are receiving a home visit, please ensure you have valid identification ready. The municipality is legally obliged to establish the identity of the persons to whom it provides services. This also applies to people who report to the municipality with a request for assistance. Residents are therefore asked to provide valid identification, as referred to in Article 1 of the Compulsory Identification Act. 

How do you prepare for the first interview?

You may prefer not to have the conversation with the area team on your own. You can therefore invite other people to the conversation who know you and your problems well and can help you think of solutions. These could be family members, neighbors, and friends, for example. Or an independent client support worker. These people can also help you with the next steps you want to take.

What happens then?

After the investigation (the interviews), the area team employee will draw up a report. We call this the Frisian support plan. We ask you to read this Frisian support plan carefully and respond to it. This support plan forms the basis for follow-up action if (specialist) assistance is required.

Still have questions?

You can call us Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The telephone number is (0512) 386 222. Please ask for the youth and social services department. You can also send an email to:toegang@opsterland.nl. 

Independent client support

A client support worker is happy to help you. For example, if you want to arrange help or support and you don't know how to do that or where to go. An independent client support worker is free of charge.

When arranging assistance or support, a client support worker can:

  • help you list your questions and wishes
  • help prepare conversations
  • accompany to meetings
  • contribute ideas about agreements regarding the assistance you receive
  • contribute ideas if you are unable to reach an agreement with an organization

Organization in the municipality of Opsterland that offers client support:
Oco thinks along with you: https://ocodenktmee.nl/

Objecting

Do you disagree with a decision made by the municipality? Then you can lodge an objection.

The objection procedure is different from the complaints procedure. You submit a complaint if you are dissatisfied with the conduct of a municipal official. You submit an objection if you disagree with a decision made by the municipality. This concerns a decision that has a direct negative impact on you. https://www.opsterland.nl/bezwaar-maken

Complaints procedure

Are you dissatisfied with our work or our conduct? For example, you may feel that we have not provided you with sufficient information or that an agreement has not been implemented quickly enough. Perhaps you feel that a municipal employee has not treated you properly. If so, please submit your complaint to us. Talking helps

First, of course, it is important to keep talking to each other. So first try to talk out your problems with the official you believe is responsible. Often a mistake is easily corrected. Sometimes there is a misunderstanding. A good conversation can already eliminate your problem.

If you are unable to find a solution through discussion, you can submit a complaint to us. https://www.opsterland.nl/klacht-indienen
If you feel that this is not sufficient, you can also contact the confidential advisors at Jeugdstem. Jeugdstem is there for you: make your voice heard.

Record-keeping obligation

Article 7:454 of the Dutch Civil Code sets out the social worker's obligation to keep records. This article stipulates that the social worker must create a file relating to the treatment of the person seeking help. We process your personal data from the moment you submit your request for support to us. By processing, we mean requesting, recording, and sharing your data. We will, of course, discuss this with you in advance. We only record your data when this is necessary to find an answer to your question. We only share your data when this is relevant and necessary for the assistance to be provided. In doing so, we act in accordance with the Youth Act and the GDPR. 

Right of access, correction, and deletion

It is legally stipulated that clients and employees have the right to an overview of and access to the processed data. There is also a right to correction (improvement and/or supplementation) or deletion of personal data.

Data processing

As a resident of the municipality, you will have dealings with the municipality in various ways. As a public-law organization, the municipality is responsible for implementing various laws. In order to carry out our tasks and obligations and to help our residents, it is often necessary to process personal data.

The municipality therefore processes personal data in order to fulfill its duties and obligations under the law and to assist its residents. More information about this can be found at https://www.opsterland.nl/privacy-en-cookieverklaring-van-de-gemeente-opsterland.

The Youth Act stipulates that data may not be disclosed to third parties without the consent of the person concerned. Who must give this consent:

Referral Index Fryslân

Our regional team uses the Fryslân Referral Index, which is a digital system. Teachers, counselors, and social workers can use it to report children or young people aged 0 to 23 who need extra help. Only professionals can use the referral index.

When two or more professionals report on the same child, a match is created. This means that several people are involved in helping this child. These professionals receive each other's contact details and get in touch with each other. They agree on who does what and who takes the lead. The aim of the referral index is: one child, one family, one plan. In Fryslân, the referral index is called ViF ZiZeO. This stands for: Fryslân Referral Index, Insight into Health Education.

At the municipality of Opsterland, we report all children and young people under the age of 23 to the referral index if the area team is involved. This allows us to coordinate assistance as effectively as possible.

Would you like to know more?
Visit www.verwijsindexfryslan.nl.
There you will also find a video for parents: www.verwijsindex.tv/ouders

Important to know:
By signing the customized plan, you also indicate that you are aware that we will report your child to the referral index.