OCRights has established a collaboration with the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision concerning a nationwide supervisory activity in 2026–2027. The activity focuses on NAV offices’ responsibility to assess the best interests of the child when families apply for financial social assistance. The supervisory activity includes self-assessment and improvement work for NAV offices.

In 2022–2023, the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision found that children’s needs were not sufficiently safeguarded when families applied for financial social assistance. The results showed that NAV offices did not adequately map children’s needs, did not carry out sufficiently individual assessments, and made decisions on an insufficient or incorrect basis.

The best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions by public authorities that concern children. When an applicant for social assistance has children, NAV offices must pay particular attention to the children’s needs and assess what is in their best interests.

In collaboration with the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision, researchers at OCRights will use data from the supervisory activity to study how NAV offices map and assess the best interests of the child, and whether supervision contributes to improved practice. Qualitative studies based on the supervisory activity are also planned. The aim is to promote knowledge-based practice and service development.

Project manager: Therese Saltkjel
Partner: The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision / Helsetilsynet