mbl.is reported today that a newly published review has uncovered multiple breaches in foster care procedures at Barnavernd Reykjavíkur (Reykjavik Child Protection), the municipal child protection office for the Icelandic capital. The review found persistent failures in case handling, including instances where children were kept in emergency foster placements for months longer than permitted under existing rules, raising concerns about children’s safety and legal compliance.
The review, which was presented to stakeholders on or before 23 October 2026, documents cases in which children were placed with individuals lacking valid foster licences, according to mbl.is and Mannlíf. These findings raise concerns about oversight and adherence to statutory requirements at Reykjavik Child Protection, which is run by the City of Reykjavík municipal government.
The review also describes failures to carry out legally required supervision and follow-up in certain situations, as reported by both outlets. The review partly attributes the breaches to high and sustained workload pressure on staff, though it gives no further details about how many were affected or specific cases involved.
It is not known how many children were kept beyond legal limits in emergency placements, or how many foster care cases involved unlicensed individuals, as such figures were not included in the material released with the review.
Sources
- mbl.is (first reported) in Icelandic
- Mannlíf in Icelandic
