ESN’s view on the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy Social services absent from recovery guidance despite being essential in addressing the pandemic
Despite the heavy toll of Covid-19 on social services and social care, considerations on the social impact of the pandemic are largely missing from the European Commissions’ newly published Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy and the guidance on national recovery plans, failing to invite national governments to invest in social services, which are essential for promoting economic and social development.
Meeting of ESN’s Reference Group on European Semester meeting Social services are key to a sustainable recovery for Europe
On 22 and 23 September, ESN held its annual meeting on the European Semester with its members. This year, the group focused on data and policies related to three principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR): childcare and assistance to children, long-term care and housing and assistance to homelessness. While public social services are key for the implementation of the EPSR, European and national investment is much needed to respond to the needs of people in our communities.
Meeting of ESN’s Working Group on Integrated Care and Support Grand challenge: Integrating mental health support in the community
On 8 and 9 September, ESN held its annual meeting of the Integrated Care and Support Working Group, which this year focused on strategies and best practice in the provision of integrated support for adults with mental health issues. Over the two days, speakers highlighted the need to address gaps in finance, fragmentation in services coordination and delivery.
ESN Seminar on Delivering Quality in Ageing and Care Get involved
Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 crisis that has shaken the foundations of long-term care services across Europe, the annual seminar of the European Social Network will assess long-term care in Europe. On 12 and 13 November, experts and practitioners will discuss how to best contract long-term care services while guaranteeing high quality to all people in need of care.
Christiaan van Veen is the Director of the Digital Welfare States and Human Rights Project at the Centre for Human Rights and Global Justice, based at New York University School of Law. He will also be a speaker at ESN’s upcoming European Social Services Conference 2021. ESN has interviewed him on the latest trends in the digitalisation of welfare states and how we can ensure digitalisation of social services remains ethical.
State of the Union 2020 Social policy largely missing in European Commission’s State of the Union address
Despite the social consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, social policy issues were largely absent from the 2020 State of the Union address of European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen. This is worrying for public social services directors, who believe social inclusion is fundamental for the European Union’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.