Nyborg Municipality faces scrutiny over social department practices in Denmark

Nyborg Municipality’s social department continues to face issues related to “poor administrative practices” and “moral decay,” as outlined in a recently revealed internal document by the municipality’s citizens’ advisor. The document, obtained through a transparency request, highlights concerns regarding a series of “particularly complex” cases where decisions may have been made on incorrect grounds. The advisor also notes that some cases are being “pushed away” with the justification that “it is not our responsibility,” reflecting troubling tones of moral decay.

The scandal within Nyborg’s social department gained significant attention in December 2023, following an external report that exposed a “decay of culture” and violations within hundreds of child care cases. It has since been disclosed that the issues in the department have been known for years. The citizens’ advisor had personally warned Mayor Kenneth Muhs about “serious errors” and “concerns for legal security” during a meeting in October 2021. However, the mayor did not share this information with the rest of the council, which several experts argue constitutes a breach of municipal governance law. An investigation by the Appeals Authority is currently underway.

Earlier this year, the council approved a comprehensive development plan worth nearly 300 million DKK to address the problematic conditions over the next four years. Despite several initiatives already implemented, such as hiring more social workers, the citizens’ advisor has seen an increase in demands for help. In the second quarter of 2024, the advisor received 85 complaints from dissatisfied citizens, a 25% rise from the first quarter, with 86% related to the social department.

In an email, the advisor emphasized a widespread lack of good administrative practices in the social department, continuing to challenge citizens’ legal security. Social Director Lone G. Lorenzen acknowledged that the situation is “unsatisfactory” but stressed that rebuilding trust and communication with citizens takes time.