Potsdam’s youth welfare office wants to learn from auditor criticism

There has actually been no valid youth support plan since 2023, said the head of office after a PNN report on the previously non-public report from the audit office. Nevertheless, the money for the funded measures, for example for youth clubs or school social work, was also able to be paid out on the basis of the provisions of the Social Security Code. The legal requirements for funding were met, said Mebus-Haarhoff.

The auditors had criticized the office’s administrative practice: In addition to the lack of a funding plan, there were also a lack of impact controls, outdated funding concepts from the 1990s and inadmissible double funding. Mebus-Haarhoff admitted previous problems with youth support. The audit office and its activities “helped a lot” in the process. This is a “culture of error.”

According to the head of the office, updated performance agreements would now also apply to the providers, with more impact measurement than usual. The responsible staff has also been increased: While previously there was only one employee responsible for all providers, there are now three positions that can take care of such matters: “We are on the right track.”

At the same time, the head of the authority, who has been responsible since 2024, assured that there had been no payments to providers above the applicable tariff level. The auditors had criticized the fact that more money had been approved for the management of youth welfare agencies than was permitted by the town hall guidelines in force at the time.

Many of the difficulties mentioned have been resolved, said Mebus-Haarhoff – also with the help of a new guideline for promoting youth measures from October 2025. The issue should be dealt with in the Youth Welfare Committee. This meets next Thursday.