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School psychologist dismissed after critical failures in child investigations

Crime & justiceCrime
Key Points
  • A school psychologist in Dalarna deleted journal notes and failed to properly investigate at least seven children.
  • The psychologist has been dismissed and no longer works for the municipality, with concerns about more deficient investigations.
  • The psychologist cited high workload and stress as reasons for the shortcomings between 2020-2023.

The Inspection for Care and Care (IVO) found that there were sometimes no notes at all in these cases, and in one instance, the psychologist made an assessment without ever meeting the child. The psychologist no longer works for the municipality, having been dismissed from his position. According to the municipality's head of student health, there may be more child investigations that are deficient beyond the seven confirmed cases, raising broader concerns about the quality of student health services.

IVO directed sharp criticism in November last year at the psychologist's work in seven student cases in Hedemora, highlighting systemic issues. The psychologist claimed that high workload, poor well-being, and ethical stress were behind the shortcomings, which occurred between 2020 and 2023. The specific actions that led to the deletion of journal notes remain unclear, and it is unknown how many additional investigations might be affected.

The exact consequences for the children involved due to the delays and lack of assessments have not been detailed, and the municipality has not specified what measures it has taken to address the shortcomings. The current status of the psychologist's professional license or any legal proceedings against him is also undisclosed.

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Dala-DemokratenAftonbladet
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School psychologist dismissed after critical failures in child investigations | Reed News