Rodez. Protection of children in “danger”, a mobilization yesterday before the Aveyron departmental council

They denounce “deleterious working conditions”their “repercussions” on the care of children, a state of “institutional suffering” for them, who become “social emergency workers”an overload of work “linked to replacing colleagues on sick leave (professional burnout, depression, etc.)”…

Their goal: to make their discomfort and their desire for a better tomorrow for the child protection sector heard, while the Conference of the Departments of France is currently being held. “Child protection is in danger”says Arnaud Villefranque, “union defender” for the CFDT, the union which launched this call for one-day mobilization.

Alongside around ten of his colleagues, who work for Child Welfare or Maternal and Child Protection, they came together to denounce their working conditions.

And if child protection is one of the Department’s prerogatives, the institution is not the only one targeted by their mobilization. “If the State increases its allocations to the Department, it will be able to recruit more”summarizes Arnaud Villefranque, who continues: “What we want is for everyone to come around the table so that the situation improves”.

The problem arises more every year, while according to child protection professionals, working conditions continue to deteriorate.

Another fact that worries them: the average age of family assistants (host families), which is currently 56 years old in the department. A profession which, beyond being faced with an announced wave of departures, seems less and less attractive.

Of the 220 positions to be filled, only 180 are filled according to the demonstrators gathered in front of the departmental council.