Opportunities for Transformation of the System of Care for Vulnerable Children in the Czech Republic

This thesis had two maim aims. First to analyse the work of municipal social workers in Pardubice county. It sought to answer following questions: what are the current practices of OSPOD workers in various areas of their work? What will the new law on social protection of children change? What else is needed to move closer the best possible practise? The second aim was to estimate what proportion of children currently placed in institutions for babies in Pardubice county would need foster in case the institutions were closed down and what proportion of children currently placed need not be removed from the family at all were their families provided with support. As for the first aim, the analysis has shown that many aspects of the work of OSPOD play an important in the system of care for vulnerable children, yet the current practise in most of them significantly lags behind what could be called best possible practise. The new law will change the situation only partly. On the positive side significant changes in the practise of OSPOD is achievable. As for the second aim, due to limitations of available data, only very rough estimates could be made. But the estimates suggest that not so huge human and financial resources would be required to replace institutions for babie