Dutch inspectorate received concerns about Spanish youth home from 2016

The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) received its first report about Huize Soria, a home for Dutch young people in Spain, in 2016. A spokesperson told the ANP news agency that reports about the quality and safety of care arrived occasionally in the years that followed. Dutch organisations continued placing young people there despite later warnings, according to Nieuwsuur. [4] [5]

The inspectorate did take some action. In an answer to parliament dated 16 October, minister W.R.C. Sterk said it informed the Spanish authorities about the 2016 report, considered later signals in its risk-based oversight and raised concerns with organisations that placed young people at the home and with Huize Soria itself. The IGJ told the minister, in hindsight, that it could also have informed Spain about the later signals. The answer does not establish what those steps achieved. [1] [2]

The concerns became more specific in 2021, when five young people approached Amsterdam’s children’s ombudsman. Nieuwsuur reported that experts in a subsequent inquiry for the care organisations found a ‘repressive culture’ at Huize Soria, while noting differences in young people’s experiences. On 20 October, Nieuwsuur said it had spoken to 16 former residents who described mistreatment and restrictions on their freedom. Huize Soria rejects the allegations. It says it had repeated contact with the Dutch inspectorate and received positive assessments during Spanish inspection visits. [5] [3] [7] [8]

Spain’s youth-care inspectorate ordered Huize Soria to stop providing care at the end of September because it lacked the required permits, Nieuwsuur reported. The home said it decided on 5 October to close its Spanish care site. That permit finding does not establish the allegations about treatment. [6] [9]

Sterk also told parliament she did not know which organisations, apart from SAVE Jeugdbescherming, had placed children at Huize Soria, or how many children were there when Spain ordered it to stop. Dutch authorities are checking whether other overseas placements bypassed the required procedure through the central authorities. [2]