Dozens of Dutch youth care workers deregistered over suspected fraud
More than 50 youth care workers in the Netherlands have been removed from the national quality register this week following a spot check that revealed widespread documentation irregularities, with the Dutch Youth Care Quality Register Foundation (SKJ) citing suspected fraud and signs of criminal exploitation of vulnerable youth, according to RTL.
The findings come from an ongoing investigation by the SKJ into 3,500 individual registrations. The first round reviewed 274 certifications of prior learning, known as EVCs (Recognition of Prior Learning), used to verify workers' experience in place of formal diplomas. Of those checked, between 50 and 60 individuals—nearly one in five—were immediately removed from the register.
According to the SKJ, the affected care workers failed to prove they had the necessary qualifications or relevant work experience. Some had allegedly tampered with EVC documentation. “We think this is terrible,” said an SKJ spokesperson. “We received signals of certificate fraud, and this has now been confirmed. During the review, we noticed similarities in files, sometimes even identical texts in reports and summaries.” The SKJ now plans to file a formal complaint for fraud.
The organization emphasized that having a valid SKJ registration is crucial, as it authorizes youth care workers to carry out high-risk duties such as placing children under state custody or making formal diagnoses. These tasks typically require a relevant higher education degree or a certified equivalent through sufficient on-the-job experience verified via EVC certification.
The SKJ believes the findings may only be the “tip of the iceberg.” The investigation, launched in December, remains underway and is expected to take several more months. A private investigative firm has been hired to assist.
The EVC system has faced increasing scrutiny as the number of agencies issuing certifications and the number of EVC-certified workers in youth care have both grown rapidly in recent years. Law enforcement, public prosecutors, and oversight bodies—including the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate—have warned of large-scale fraud and potential links to organized crime.
“There are concerns about people who have the paperwork but not the knowledge, which means vulnerable youth aren’t getting the proper care,” Herman Geerdink, director of the SKJ, told RTL during a recent webinar. He added that the organization had received signs that some rogue youth care workers were recruiting children for criminal activity. “We understand there are indications that a number of individuals entered youth care specifically to involve young people in criminal operations.”
Shamir Ceuleers, head of the Center for Child Trafficking and Human Trafficking, called the situation “deeply alarming.” He said, “That criminals are recruiting children precisely in places where they are supposed to be safe and where their vulnerability is known—this speaks not only to the vulnerability of the children but also to the calculated and sophisticated nature of the perpetrators.”
Esther Polhuijs of UNICEF echoed the concern. “Youth care means the government is intervening in family life to protect a child. That is a serious responsibility, and the government must carry it out with great care. In this case, oversight appears to have failed, allowing unqualified individuals to care for children. That is a very troubling conclusion.”
The SKJ said the 50-plus workers identified so far were employed by various youth care organizations. It declined to name specific institutions but urged all youth care providers to verify whether their staff remain registered. “The quality and safety of youth care depend on verified qualifications,” the foundation said.
UNICEF stressed that all institutions responsible for children must be safe and adequately staffed with qualified personnel. “Oversight must improve to ensure that duty is met,” said Polhuijs.
To prevent further misuse of the EVC system, the SKJ has reportedly already tightened its registration procedures for applicants using these certificates. The updated process includes stricter scrutiny and clearer verification standards.
