Pursuing Excellence in Social Services

Dear members and friends of ESN,

In this annual review we look back at our activities and accomplishments in 2011. In light of the persistent challenges that social services across Europe are facing, our network has been more active than ever in searching for innovative solutions, meeting with colleagues to exchange ideas and good practice.

We looked at two major questions at our spring seminar in Budapest – how to make savings through service (re)design and how to promote investment in social services. We organised an autumn seminar in Paris to focus on early childhood and child protection services and their impact on fighting poverty and improving well-being.

In September we launched the report ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing in Europe’ at the European Parliament, where Nessa Childers MEP hosted a round table on how to make mental health a priority in the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

ESN also deepened its work on deinstitutionalisation. We set up our first training course to provide delegations from the four Visegrád countries with the skills and know-how to manage the change from institutional to community-based care.

These are just a few highlights of our work together in 2011. I invite you to read on and find out more. Thank you all for your commitment and involvement and I look forward to working with you in 2012.

Best wishes,

John Halloran
Chief Executive

The report is available in the following langauges: English, français, español, italiano, polski and deutsch.