Deputy-Ombudsman sees problems in cooperation between child welfare and adolescent psychiatry that endanger children's rights

Deputy-Ombudsman Mikko Sarja finds that cooperation between child welfare and adolescent psychiatry does not function as required by law. The Deputy-Ombudsman investigated this issue on his own initiative. The investigation was based on a complaint filed by the City of Helsinki's child welfare services against HUS Adolescent Psychiatry.

Social welfare and health care authorities have a statutory obligation to cooperate to ensure smooth service chains for clients and patients. While the parties were aware of the cooperation obligation, there were significant shortcomings in its practical implementation. The parties also had different views on why the cooperation was ineffective.

The Deputy-Ombudsman emphasises that multidisciplinary cooperation is not the responsibility of individual employees. He also points out that it is not the Ombudsman's task to solve problems related to service structures or to instruct the authorities in the practical implementation of cooperation. The responsibility for organising the cooperation lies with the HUS Group and the City of Helsinki.

At the same time, the Deputy-Ombudsman draws attention to the fact that the regulation on multiprofessional cooperation is often ineffective without sufficient investments in its practical implementation.

The Deputy-Ombudsman has requested the City of Helsinki and HUS Adolescent Psychiatry to report by 31 December 2026 on the measures they have taken or intend to take to improve the cooperation.

The Deputy-Ombudsman’s decision 6893/2025 has been published (in Finnish) on the website www.oikeusasiamies.fi.

Further information is available from Principal Legal Adviser Virve Toivonen, tel. +358 9 432 3357.