Six employees of a care institution for people with severe intellectual disabilities in Bodegraven, South Holland, have been immediately suspended. The employees humiliated their clients and shared images of this in a private group on Snapchat.
The humiliating images were made on a group in care institution De Akker. Care organization Sirjon announced on Tuesday that the employees have been suspended with immediate effect.
Sirjon chairman Jan van Ginkel saw the images last Saturday. The oldest videos were made about nine months ago. Van Ginkel does not want to say exactly what can be seen in the images. However, he calls the videos “disrespectful and humiliating”. According to Sirjon, it does not involve sexual acts.
The care organization also does not want to say how many clients are victims. Experts will examine whether the clients’ behavior has changed after the images were made.
Sirjon is also discussing what the organization can say to its clients now that six counselors have suddenly disappeared. “This requires careful wording.”
Care Organization ‘Surprized’ And ‘Touched’, Filing A Report Not Excluded
The residents’ parents were informed on Monday. “A series of emotions come up there. Shocked, startled, angry, disappointed, sad, surprised,” says Van Ginkel. “All those emotions are also going through me.”
Van Ginkel describes the suspended employees as well-educated and experienced. “That is why we are all the more surprised and it touches us all the more.”
Research should show whether the private Snapchat group had more than six members. According to Van Ginkel, there are currently no signs of this. 24 people worked on the care group. Other caregivers are also shocked, according to Sirjon.
The care organization has informed the Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) and the Personal Data Authority (AP) of the images. Sirjon does not rule out reporting to the police when the investigation is completed.
Residents of De Akker have the mental capacity of a child from zero to three years. Some also have a form of autism. They need physical care and guidance.