Shaping the future of
local services in Europe
Who is ESN?
The independent network of Directors of Social
Services in Europe..
Across
Europe there are different models and forms of organisation
of public social services or social welfare. Likewise,
different forms of association have developed within
each country to enable directors of public social services
to meet with their colleagues on a local or national
level; some are relatively informal whilst others are
long established with more complex structures. What
these various associations and groups lacked was a systematic
means of communicating and working together at a European
level.
The European Social Network was therefore established
to provide its members with just such an effective European
forum. ESN is a not-for-profit charitable company (a
non government organisation) under UK
law. It is politically independent and has a board of
trustees comprising a representative from each full-member
organisation.
ESN is directly supported by the European Commission
in relation to its programme on social
inclusion and has participatory status
with the Council of Europe.
What are our aims?
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To
promote social justice, inclusion,equality, and
anti-poverty in Europe through development of quality
public social services.
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To
work with European national directors associations
and other social partners to share knowledge, information,
experience and expertise on social policy and practice
issues.
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To
provide a focus and mechanism for social services
representation in Europe.
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To
provide a framework for personnel exchange, project
experience, joint research and training.
Who are our members?
The
full members of European Social Network
(ESN) are national associations of directors of local
authority social services, social protection and social
welfare from European countries, politically independent
of national, regional or local government. In some countries
directors also manage health or other services such
as education or housing.
Representatives
of each of the member association hold an Annual General
Meeting (AGM) at the European Social Services Conference
each year to review the past year's activity and to
agree the business plan for the coming year.
Recognising the important role played by various sectors
and professions in building a social Europe,
the network also welcomes associate members.
These include a wide range of partners including regional
and local authorities and other public social welfare
and health departments, universities and other research
organisations, national ministries, NGOs, consultancies
and private companies.
Please
click here to see a list of our current members and
associate members.
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