January 2017

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	January 2017

Highlights 2016

This January issue presents you with an overview of ESN’s activities in 2016. The launch of the study ‘Investing in Children, Improving Outcomes’, our seminar on the social service workforce held in Bratislava, the key learnings from the European Social Services Conference in The Hague and our working groups on disability and ageing and care are just some of the milestones of ESN's work over the past year.

We look forward to another promising year with key events such as the 25th anniversary of the European Social Services Conference in Malta and the Members’ Forum, where our members will be called on to shape the future of ESN and comment on the future of social welfare.

The European Pillar of Social Rights – towards a people’s Europe?

ESN participated in the European Conference on the Pillar of Social Rights on 23 January in Brussels. The event was key to wrapping up the public consultation and defining the future direction of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

ESN has submitted our response to the Consultation in December issuing a position paper.

To find out more about the European Pillar on Social Rights and ESN's work on it you can read our news article in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

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Highlights from ESN

Investing in children's services, improving outcomes. Ensuring no child is left behind

On 30-31 May the European Social Network (ESN) launched the study 'Investing in children's services, improving outcomes' at a two day event, which marked the end of a three-year project in 14 European countries. The study assesses how key principles of the European Commission's Recommendation 'Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage' are implemented in practice.

Lessons from Europe: how investing in the workforce can improve the quality of social services

The reform of the workforce, its elements and the extent of it proved a topic of keen debate at the European Social Network's (ESN) annual seminar, organised in Bratislava on 15-16 November 2016.

Local strategies for social cohesion

‘The future is local’ was the title of the European Social Network (ESN)’s 2016 annual conference, which took place in The Hague on 20-22 June. ESN examines the main take aways and insights gained over the three-day event in terms of decentralisation, community empowerment and local partnerships.

Involvement of people with disabilities: the key to adequate, person-centred services?

The fourth meeting of ESN's disability working group took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 5 April 2016. Together with service users from Bulgaria and the UK, ESN members discussed ways to involve service users in the design, implementation and evaluation of services.

The refugee crisis' impact on local public social services in Europe

How has the refugee crisis impacted upon local services in Europe? The European Social Network asked its members in the form of an online survey looking at the impact of and responses to the crisis. Read our analysis of these findings in this article and accompanying publication.

Social care workforce in older people's services

The fourth meeting of ESN's Working Group on Ageing and Care took place in Mechelen, Belgium, on 11-12 February 2016, hosted by ESN member, the Flemish Association of Directors of Social Services. It looked at common challenges and new demands for training and skills development, support for family carers and workforce planning, including recruitment and retention.