About the Working Group
In 2026, ESN established a new Working Group for its members to support the modernisation of social services. The Working Group on Modernisation aims to managerial capacity through the exchange of best practices and policies, leading to up-to-date service planning and management. It will focus on cross-cutting themes affecting social services independently of their target group.
The main target group is social service directors and managers who promote and plan to promote change and modernisation in their services. Participants will be selected based on their responses to a questionnaire sent to ESN members.
About the 2026 WG Meeting
The 2026 meeting of the ESN Working Group on Modernisation took place in Dublin, Ireland on 2-3 July 2026, under the auspices of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and co-hosted by Child and Family Agency of Ireland (TUSLA) and Dublin City Council.
At this year's meeting, we discussed current societal trends affecting social services, including their leadership, staff and people using services and how service leaders can respond in the best possible ways. We also discussed how managers can embrace these changes and shape organisations that are responsive and up to date with these developments.
If you are interested in the Working Group on Modernisation in 2027 and beyond, please contact policy@esn-eu.org.
PROGRAMME
Thursday, 2 July 2026
13:30 - 13:55 - Opening Session
- Dr Anthony O’Leary, Director of Quality and Regulation, TUSLA Child Protection Agency, Ireland
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
13:55 - 15:10 - Modernising social services & change management
This session discussed what modern social services entail, how leaders can drive change in their organisation, and what we can learn from a modernisation experience at Child and Family Agency Ireland (TUSLA).
- Martin Lichte, Senior Policy Officer, European Social Network
- Fergus O’Cuanachain, Chief Information Officer, Child and Family Agency Ireland (TUSLA), Ireland
- Robin Miller, Professor of Collaborative Learning in Health & Social Care, University of Birmingham Department of Social Work & Social Care / IMPACT, United Kingdom
15:40 - 17:35 - Group Work: Modernisation of Social Services
Facilitator: Martin Lichte, Senior Policy Officer, European Social Network
Small groups discussed key features of modern social services, the enabling factors for change and how barriers to change can be overcome. This was followed by a plenary discussion to agree on the main elements.
17:35 - 17:45 - Wrap-up (Day One)
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
Friday, 3 July 2026
09:00 - 09:10 - Welcome to Day Two
- Martin Lichte, Senior Policy Officer, European Social Network
09:10 - 10:30 - Inspirational Practices
Small groups discussed practices and learnings on digitalisation, community care, workforce, and financing, and reported back to the group on key lessons. Each group started with one or two inspirational examples, and then discussed key lessons for modernising social services.
Digitalisation & AI
- Digital Transformation Plan of Social Services in Barcelona – Javier Martínez, Manager, Municipal Institute of Social Services, City Council of Barcelona, Spain
Digitalisation Tools and Apps
- SenjoroGO – App for improved Home Care - Modestas Bastys, CEO, National Social Inclusion Institute, Lithuania
- W-Social Tool for Integrated Care - Elisabet Higueras, Hospitalet Local Government, Spain
Community Care & Person-Centred Services
- Improve the Person Journey through the Health and Social Care System - Alison White, West Lothian Council, United Kingdom
- Involvement of Civil Society in Social Planning - Annika Strandberg, Gothenburg Region, Sweden
Workforce
- Northern Ireland Social Care Workforce Strategy 2025-2035 - Jane McMillan, Social Work Officer, Department of Health, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- KWP Strategy 2030 – Workforce Aspects - Gudrun Bauer, Head of Strategy, Consortium of Retirement Homes in Vienna (KWP), Austria
Funding Social Services
- Grant simplification and continuous improvement of personal care - Martine Tilman, Agency for Quality of Life - Wallonia, Belgium
10:30 - 11:15 - Reporting back from group work
11:35 - 12:30 - Looking ahead to future meetings
Participants discussed the vision for the group's end product, the modernisation toolkit, its potential central elements, structure and themes, and which aspects should be further developed in the upcoming meetings.
12:30 - 12:45 - Closing Session
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
14:00 - 16:00 - Practice Visit & Discussion with TUSLA Senior Managers (Optional)
Discussing modernisation and change processes in TUSLA related to integrated service delivery, workforce allocation modelling, digitisation & quality for outcomes.
- Sue Kane, National Implementation Manager, Practice Reform and Change, TUSLA, Ireland
- Bernie Redmond, ICT Digital Transformation Manager, TUSLA, Ireland
- Dr Anthony O’ Leary, Director of Quality and Regulation, TUSLA, Ireland
Partners
