Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
Managing Change: from Institutional to Community Care
John Halloran CEO European Social Network
European Social NetworkSocial Services In Europe
www.esn-eu.org
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
European Social NetworkWho we are and what we do
Who we are:
>> An independent network for social directors and senior professionals in public services.
>> 88 Members in 29 countries – associations of social directors and professionals, municipalities, counties, regions, research institutes and regulatory agencies
>> Supported by the European Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS 2007–2013).
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
European Social NetworkWho we are and what we do
Together with our members:
>> facilitate good practice exchange
>> bridge the gap between European policy-making and local care practice and management.
>> deliver social policy and social care practice knowledge
>> advocate empowerment of users, across service boundaries and quality in service management.
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
European Social NetworkA vision for the future
Vision of future social care system
>> Listening to service users and carers and communities
>> Partnership that respects dignity and rights
>> Everyone should have control over their lives
Care in large institutions is not compatible with this vision
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
European Social NetworkA vision for the future
>> A hidden population living in long-stay institutions: •1.2 million persons with disabilities•300 000 persons with mental health problems •150 000 children
>> While an institutional setting may provide physical security (food, shelter), it also fosters dependency, over-protection and exclusion of service users and cannot offer the sense of well-being that stems from being included in society
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
European Social NetworkDeveloping community care
ESN’s work on the transition from institutional to community care
>> Seminar and Working Group on Developing Community Care
>> High-Level Advisory Committee on Developing Community Care
>> Training Programme on transition focusing on Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia
>> Member of the European Expert Group on Transition from Institutional to Community Care
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
European Social NetworkDeveloping community care
‘Managing Change’: Training programme for New Member States
>> Aim: Launched in November 2011, to provide participants with the expertise in strategic planning and operational service management to develop the principles, values and skills necessary to develop modern community-based services and close institutional care services
>> Participants: 16 individuals from Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia
>> Profile: public sector directors and middle management; from national ministries and some NGO providers
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
ESN’S Report on Developing Community CareESN published a new report entitled ‘Developing Community Care’
>> Makes the case for community care, outlines the first steps in deinstitutionalisation and identifies key elements for good community care
>> Draws on policy material, practice examples and advice from ESN’s Policy & Practice Group on Developing Community Care (2009-2010) and its High-Level Advisory Committee on Developing
Community Care
>> Available in English, Polish, Czech, Hungarian
and Romanian.
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
Making the case for community care
There is a powerful case for the transition from institutional to community care:
>> Service users’ experiences
>> International human rights instruments
>> Social work principles
>> The economic case
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
Taking the first steps towards community care
Deinstitutionalisation requires a vision for change and leadership, combined with the participation of all those affected:
>> A vision for deinstitutionalisation
>> Local leadership
>> Involvement of users, their families and the community
>> Funding
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
Managing community care: challenges and opportunities
Key elements for an effective and coordinated delivery of community care:
>> Strategic area needs assessment and planning
>> Information and advice
>> Individual needs assessment
>> Service capacity and availability
>> Choice
>> Quality assurance, inspection and improvement
>> Social inclusion
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
Managing Change
Conclusion: Social Work and Deinstitutionalisation
•IFSW: Social work promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships as well as the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being.
•In solidarity with those who are dis-advantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion.
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
Managing Change
Conclusion: Social Work and Deinstitutionalisation
•Please note; this is not just an issue for central Europe and Balkans but one for all of all of Europe and the World
The transition to community-based care is a major social change that will liberate vulnerable people and promote social inclusion.
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development, Stockholm, July 2012
THANK YOU!
