Two care institute workers suspended for sexual abuse of clients with mental disability
The care facility De Zijlen has suspended two employees for sexually inappropriate behavior toward at least one client. The facility provides care for people with mental disabilities at over 40 locations throughout the province of Groningen. Several parents and other staff members told RTV Noord that De Zijlen hesitated to act and initially tried to cover up the incident.
The sexually inappropriate behavior happened in mid-September at a De Zijlen location in the municipality of Westerkwartier. In the past week, parents put more pressure on the management to take action, resulting in the two employees being suspended, the parents told the broadcaster.
A spokesperson for De Zijlen denied this. “A report of sexually inappropriate behavior was indeed filed. Because we take this seriously, we immediately investigated and subsequently took action.”
The two employees were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. It is not yet clear if anyone else was involved. The spokesperson said that De Zijlen will “implement the appropriate procedures and then take appropriate follow-up steps” if the investigation gives rise to doing so.
The institution would not provide further information about the nature of the inappropriate behavior, citing “privacy reasons.”
The incident has been reported to the Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate. It is unclear whether De Zijlen or one of the parents filed the report.
