Child and youth welfare facilities intention of improving the quality of care of minors in out-of-home care in Burgenland and establishing modern socio-pedagogical standards. For children who come into out-of-home care directly from their family without crisis assessment neither their individual needs nor mental condition or development status are diagnosed. It is thus not possible to find suitable accommodation. And there is the danger that the children will not receive the care that they need. Changes in care settings, which are harmful for the development of the children, can be the consequence. It is also a major challenge for the care facilities accepting children without advance crisis assessment, as they have to take care of the stabilisation and diagnosis of the minors in addition to the care work. Crisis assessment for all children There is also a lack of crisis places in Styria. In a particularly bad case, a twelveyear old girl had to be housed in a crisis de-escalation place in Burgenland for this reason for several weeks. As this was only vacant for a limited time and a suitable follow-up place was not available, she was transferred to a facility that considered itself unsuitable. Insufficient crisis places in Styria and Carinthia Carinthia has two crisis centres with eight places and two emergency places respectively. They are located in Klagenfurt and Spittal/Drau. Both have a waiting list, which reflects the inadequate care of the minors in this area. The NPM sharply criticised that there are no immediately available places for crisis situations, but that those affected are forced to wait until a place becomes free. X Crisis centres shall be set up throughout Austria. X The number of crisis places shall meet the demand. X Plans for expanding follow-up places shall be urgently implemented. 2.3.6 Different levels of education in care facilities The professionalism of the staff is a condition for children and adolescents in residential care to receive the best possible support in their development. Professionalism encompasses different dimensions. This includes a sound education that prepares candidates for the tasks and requirements of child and youth welfare in the best possible way, imparts the necessary factual, methodical and didactical skills and requires dealing with theories and concepts of social pedagogy. In addition to theoretical knowledge, competency in implementation that is acquired and consolidated largely through practical experience is required for professional work. At the same time, the composition of the group in terms of age, behavioural disorders and mental illness poses different challenges for the staff. The opportunity to receive further education and advanced training as well as team reflection and supervision to this end are imperative. Professionalism required 78