Quality and Performance in
social services in Europe
- better outcomes for people

Keynote speakers 2009

An exciting programme of keynote speakers includes :

Vladimír ŠPIDLA, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Vladimír Špidla became European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities in November 2004, having previously been Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and a former Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

Petr ŠIMERKA, Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Czech Republic
Petr Šimerka, Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Czech Republic has a strong commitment to standards in social services. In this presentation he sets out his government's programme for reform in a difficult economic and social environment. He also reviews the Czech EU Presidency’s contribution to EU social policy development.

Maria LARSSON, Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health,
Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Sweden
Maria Larsson has been Swedish minister for Elderly Care and Public Health since 2006. Her vision is a Sweden where those who are weak become strong. She addresses the conference on Sweden's social priorities for its forthcoming EU presidency.

Oldřich VLASÁK, President, Union of Towns and Municipalities (SMO CR), Czech Republic
Oldřich Vlasák, President of SMO CR, is also executive president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), a member of the World Council of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and a member of the European Parliament. Mr. Vlasák will address the conference on the importance of the municipalities in provision of social services.

Michael O'HIGGINS, Chair, Audit Commission, United Kingdom
Michael O'Higgins is Chair of the Audit Commission, an independent watchdog driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in UK public services. He previously worked for OECD, Price Waterhouse and PA Consulting, and in 2005-6 chaired a national panel on 'Commissioning a Patient-led National Health Service'. 25 years after its inauguration, Mr O'Higgins offers a critical assessment of the role and achievements of the Audit Commission, assessing its value as a model in the wider European context.

Kai LEICHSENRING, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research

Kai Leichsenring, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, is a distinguished researcher in the area of social and health care policies, in particular quality management in social and health services. He is working with ESN to explore how quality assurance mechanisms are built into contracts and agreements established by local authorities with independent care providers for the delivery of older people’s services. Here, he presents the interim results of an ongoing project which has looked at the legislative context in a cross-section of European countries and the management of contractual relationships by directors of social services.

Read more about 'Commissioning for Quality' (ESN seminar, 2008)

Ágnes SIMONYI, Director General, Institute of Social Policy and Labour, Hungary

Ágnes Simonyi, Director General, Institute of Social Policy and Labour was formerly Deputy Secretary of State for the Ministry of Labour in Hungary and a Social Welfare Director in UN administered Kosovo. Ágnes was also a member of the ESN members' working group on active inclusion in 2008. At the conference she discusses quality implementation measures in the structural and cultural context of central Europe today.

Miriam CIPRIANI, Director, Department for Social Affairs,
Regione Lazio, Italy

Miriam Cipriani is an economist and expert in programming of health and social services, who has been Director of Social Services of Regione Lazio, of which Rome is the capital city, since 2007. Here she describes the Region’s approach to building a quality system for social services, discussing its successes and the inherent challenges, with special reference to services designed for families and minors.

Erik KAASTRUP-HANSEN, Director, Directorate of Social Affairs and Employment, Aarhus, Denmark

Erik Kaastrup-Hansen became Director of social affairs and employment in Denmark's second city, Aarhus, in 2007. He was unanimously selected as the right man to face coming social challenges, given his substantial experience of management and technical insight into the social and mployment field. At the conference he discusses the development of performance indicators and evauation studies to support an ethos of continuous improvement in service delivery and efficiency.

Ana BUÑUEL HERAS, Deputy Director, Elderly Services, City of Madrid, Spain

Ana Buñuel has been Deputy Director for Elderly Services in Madrid since 2008. Her previous post was Vice Director General of Equal Opportunities from 2004-2008. Ana highlights the challenges facing public authorities in promoting choice, quality and equity in social care when contracting out services and presents a systematic approach which separates service management responsibility from asset ownership.

Tof THISSEN, Chair, DIVOSA, Netherlands

Tof Thissen is chairman of Divosa, the Dutch association of managers in the field of work, income and social issues, and holds various managerial positions in the field of employment and income. Responding to a specially commissioned film, which explores the perspective of service users in four countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, United Kingdom), Tof will discuss how the social services can support citizens to take an active role in shaping their own outcomes.

Michael LÖHER, Managing Director, German Association of Public and Private Welfare (Deutscher Verein für öffentliche und private Fürsorge e.V)

Michael Löher is managing director of Deutscher Verein, which offers a platform and forum for non-profit and welfare organisations, as well as local authorities, to initiate, discuss and influence trends in social work and policy in Germany. He previously held executive positions in the State ministry of Saxony-Anhalt for employment, women, health and social affairs. Responding to the film on perspectives of social service users Michael will discuss the significance of the debate on quality standards for service providers and the current situation in Germany.

Read more about Deutscher Verein (German website)

Alexis JAY, Chief Social Work Inspector, Scotland, United Kingdom

Alexis Jay is Chief Social Work Inspector and chief executive of the Social Work Inspection Agency, whose work aims 'to drive up standards and improve the quality of social work services across Scotland, based on grassroots evidence from people who use services: carers, staff and other key stakeholders'. Responding to the same specially commissioned film, Alexis will discuss the importance of user consultation and quality assurance in opening up social care markets.

Read more about SWIA

Quentin DICKINSON
Director of European Affairs, Radio France, Brussels

(Chair, 24 June)

Niall DICKSON
Chief Executive of the King's Fund, United Kingdom

(Chair, 23 June)

Lotta PERSSON,
Chair, Swedish Association of Social Directors,
Föreningen Sveriges Socialchefer (FSS)

(Round Table, 24 June)

Jerôme VIGNON
Director for Social Protection and Integration,
European Commission

(Round Table, 24 June)

Fabrice HEYRIÈS,
Directeur général de l’action sociale, France

(Round Table, 24 June)

Concepción DANCAUSA TREVIÑO
City Councillor, Family and Social Services Department,
City of Madrid

(Round Table, 24 June)

Štefan ČULIK
Head of Social Inclusion,
Department for Social Services and Social Inclusion,
Ministry Of Labour And Social Affairs, Czech Republic

(Round Table, 24 June)

Matthias SCHULZE-BÖING,
Chair, National Association of Cooperative Job Centres, Germany
(Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Argen SGB II)

(Round Table, 24 June)