Definition
\nTilsyn i fosterhjem is the municipality’s independent oversight of a child’s daily care in foster care. The purpose is simple: to make sure the child is safe, heard, and receiving forsvarlig omsorg (adequate care) in practice — not just “on paper”.
\n\nWho is responsible?
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- The municipality where the foster home is located has the overall responsibility for planning, carrying out, and following up supervision. \n
- A designated supervision person (tilsynsperson/tilsynsfører) should meet the child, talk with them, and document concerns. \n
- Foster parents must allow access to the home and provide information necessary for supervision (see foster home regulations). \n
What good supervision should include
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- The child’s voice: Private, age-appropriate conversations without foster parents present when needed. \n
- Safety and wellbeing: Sleep, food, school, health care, mental wellbeing, and signs of neglect or conflict. \n
- Relationships and identity: Connection to siblings, extended family, language/culture, and the child’s life story. \n
- Contact (samvær): Whether contact is happening as decided, and whether practical barriers are being used to reduce it. \n
- Documentation: Clear written notes, concrete observations, and follow-up actions with deadlines. \n
Common failure modes (Do Better Norge perspective)
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- Box-ticking supervision: Visits happen, but the child’s lived experience isn’t captured, and concerns are softened in writing. \n
- Lack of independence: Supervisors may rely too heavily on the foster home’s narrative or the child welfare service’s framing. \n
- “Nothing to report” culture: Small signals (fear, loyalty pressure, isolation, somatic stress) are missed until harm escalates. \n
- Contact erosion: Practical choices (transport, timing, supervision rules) gradually shrink contact and later get used as “proof” the bond is weak. \n
Practical actions for parents and allies
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- Ask in writing for who is the supervision person, how often visits occur, and where reports are stored. \n
- Request that the child is spoken to alone when appropriate, and that the report includes the child’s own words. \n
- Submit specific concerns with dates and facts — and ask for a written response with follow-up steps. \n
- If supervision fails, consider escalation to Statsforvalteren (State Administrator) for oversight of municipal duties. \n
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