
High-level conference at the European Parliament celebrates milestones of the UN CRC but highlights implementation challenges, especially for children in care and unaccompanied migrant children.

The European Social Network publishes its annual report and recommendations for the European Semester 2020.

How can social services work with people using services on an equal basis for improved outcomes?

At the 28th European Social Services Conference in Hamburg 8-10 July, we are inviting everyone to rethink care in the community.

Social services directors met to discuss the coordination of services to ensure successful transitions to adulthood for care leavers.

A new European Commission is being formed following the European Parliament elections in May 2019 and the confirmation of the new Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. On the 10th September 2019 Ursula von der Leyen revealed the names of the Commissioner-designates who will oversee the different policy areas of the Commission.

On 17-18 October 2019, ESN hosted the first meeting of its working group on the digitalisation of social services to explore common challenges and opportunities posed by digitalisation.

A European Commission seminar was an opportunity to discuss innovation in social services and the outcomes of a range of EU funded projects.

Cities can engage with European programmes on sharing knowledge and access funding.

Our Policy Briefing explains how social services can play an important role in ensuring good health and wellbeing at local level.

We summarise new EU policies on cross-border family issues and a range of new studies on family policies.
ESN’s Reference Group on the European Semester met with the European Commission to discuss social policy issues.
The European Commission continues to place more attention to social services in its 2019 country-specific recommendations.

Following the panel session at the 2019 European Social Services Conference on the role of inspection agencies, we look back on the concept of quality in social services and how it can be achieved.

“Since its beginnings 20 years ago, the European Social Network (ESN) has grown from an informal network to a well-established player on the European scene, representing 140 member organisations in 36 countries.”

At the European Social Services Conference (5-7 June, Milan) plenary speakers and delegates shared innovative ideas and insightful experiences on how they improve services through evaluation.

Our members showcased their practices and discussed effective strategies at our working group meeting.

The transition to adulthood is a difficult period, especially for young people who have experienced care. Across Europe several trends have emerged on improving support for young people leaving care.

Demand is growing for care workers, due to rising numbers of people requiring home care. But the care profession in Europe struggles to gain credibility and status.