<p>This article provides insights into complaints procedures in residential childcare, based on the results of the research project “Participation in residential childcare” funded by the German Research Foundation. The findings of the study reveal that professionals have discretionary spaces when implementing complaint procedures. Staff in residential groups can use these discretionary spaces to silence young people instead of upholding their rights. The crisis created by these forms of tokenistic participation is twofold. On the one hand, the rights of young people were frequently violated in some residential groups. These facilities were officially considered children’s rights-friendly because they met the formal requirements of an established complaints procedure for young people. On the other hand, the crisis lies in child welfare reform and policy, which is essentially geared towards formal complaint procedures to safeguard children’s rights.</p>