25th European Social Services Conference Valletta, Malta, June 2017 Theme & Call for workshop proposals

Transcription

1 25th European Social Services Conference Valletta, Malta, June 2017 Theme & Call for workshop proposals The European Social Services Conference 2017 is organised by the European Social Network (ESN) in cooperation with the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

2 THEME 2017 Innovation to tackle social eclusion Important changes are under way across government and local public services to make services simpler, better and more effective in a word, smarter. Turning to new solutions, the latest thinking and cutting-edge practices is necessary to ensure that public social services effectively tackle social eclusion in Europe, fight poverty and keep responding to the needs of citizens in a challenging environment. Innovation has become a buzzword used in many sectors to mean different things. The European Union, national governments, local authorities, civil society, citizens...everyone is for innovating! But what does this actually mean in practice? How can new innovative approaches, policies and practices help public services better fight social eclusion? How can digital government transform the way services are designed and delivered to improve people s lives? And what can we learn from citizen-led initiatives and new thinking from other sectors and parts of the world to create smarter services? Creating smarter services for better lives Financial pressure on governments to deliver more and better is driving the need to create new innovative approaches, which will in turn require a shift in culture of some eisting practices. New initiatives involving users in service planning, design and implementation (for eample for older people services and active ageing) are becoming commonplace. Likewise, the value of informed decision-making drawing on evidence is still gaining a new momentum in the public sector to improve the impact of social and related services. As we become used to living and working in the digital age, new technologies adopt an increasingly important role in managing people s health and social wellbeing. The digitalisation of services to promote accessibility and independent living for people with disabilities and vulnerable older people is transforming the relationship between professionals and users. E-Government is also providing more efficiency, transparency and participation of citizens. The increasingly active role of citizens and other sectors led by grassroots initiatives, social enterprises and businesses is also creating a new social innovation space. This in turn is changing the relationship between the government, its citizens and other sectors creating opportunities for new kinds of partnerships.

3 Celebrating 25 years of shared knowledge in Europe Bringing together thousands of senior professionals from all sectors and across over the past 25 years, the European Social Services Conference (ESSC) has long been pioneering the value of knowledge echange in improving services and transforming people s lives. Since the first event in 1993, we have witnessed etraordinary developments of new ideas and technology impacting on our own lives and the lives of those we care for. The 25 th anniversary edition of the ESSC is organised for the first time in cooperation with the Maltese Government who will be presiding over the Council of the European Union. Combining a diverse mi of cultural heritage with 21st century sophistication, its capital Valletta is the ideal place for us to celebrate 25 years of international cooperation while simultaneously looking ahead to the future of social welfare services. SHAPE THE AGENDA! The 25th European Social Services Conference will provide a comprehensive policy and practice programme including: A strategic discussion through plenary sessions featuring a mi of inspiring speakers such as ministers, academics and social innovators see videos of keynote speakers from A practice-based programme of workshops and panel discussions showcasing the latest innovations and trends in local public social services see the workshop programme from Throughout the conference, various organisations from all sectors will be hosting innovative workshops and your organisation could be one of them! Within the overall theme for 2017, we are particularly interested in receiving good practice eamples of public/social/digital innovation which improves people s life chances. More specifically, the conference will feature innovative initiatives on the following themes: LOCAL PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INNOVATION (design, planning & financing) New forms of service planning, design and implementation involving service users Using evidence-based methods in local practices in a more effective way Service integration and new models of care Cross-sector partnerships for innovation New financing tools such as social impact bonds and social investment funds

4 DIGITAL & ICT-ENABLED INNOVATION ICT-enabled innovation to promote better accessibility and independent living for people with disabilities ICT-based innovation to promote better accessibility and independent living for older people Digital solutions to provide better services for older people with dementia and Alzheimer s (e.g. multi-sensor telecare, mobile technology for health and social care workers) New forms of e-government and citizen empowerment New forms of e-government improving transparency and effectiveness E-health and e-social care New technology for social workforce planning and training Robotics SOCIAL INNOVATION Grassroots initiatives in fighting poverty and promoting social inclusion (e.g. citizenled initiatives in countries most affected by the crisis, civil society led support for refugees and migrants) Products, services and models that can support the integration of refugees and migrants (e.g. skills and education development, employment, access to housing and health services) Increasing job opportunities and active inclusion through social enterprise and social business GUIDELINES TO SUBMIT A WORKSHOP PROPOSAL AIMS Alongside your colleagues from across Europe, this is a chance to: INNOVATE To use collective knowledge and shared eperiences to develop new ideas and respond to challenges INTERACT Stimulate debate by echanging knowledge and eperience in a specific field INSPIRE To present good practice, service models or projects that can inspire colleagues across Europe working on similar issues

5 DEADLINES To submit a workshop proposal, you need to complete the Workshop Proposal Form (preferably in English) and send it to us by the deadline: 18th November: proposals submitted in French, Spanish, German and Italian 25th November: proposals submitted in English GENERAL INFORMATION There are only a limited number of workshops during the conference. We will only accept a maimum of 2 applications per organisation. A workshop session lasts 75 minutes. Workshops run in parallel and delegates choose freely which workshops they wish to attend. Participant numbers in a workshop might therefore vary from 15 to 80! SELECTION CRITERIA Workshop content (good practice/service model/project) The project is original and innovative in an international contet The project is relevant and deliverable to an international audience The project involves a multi-stakeholder approach The project is transferable and has the potential to be implemented elsewhere The project has had an initial evaluation and showed outcomes of success The project involves a cross-sector and/or crossborder approach Workshop format The workshop is interactive & engaging The workshop sets clear goals which can be met within the set timeframe of workshop The workshop uses visual tools (e.g. whiteboards, flip-chart paper sheets, drawings/sketches or 3D objects) and multimedia to contribute to a dynamic session The workshop is run by eperienced facilitators Essential Essential Desirable Desirable

6 LANGUAGES Workshops may be presented in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish. All workshops that are not presented in English will be simultaneously interpreted into English it is the language most widely understood by delegates. Most workshops will also be simultaneously interpreted into at least one other language (French/German/Italian/Spanish). These interpretation costs are covered by the organiser (ESN), but the cost of translating written materials for the workshop into other languages, as required, must be borne by your own organisation. Workshop presenters will receive a list of subscribed delegates prior to the conference which details the number of delegates attending their workshop and their preferred language(s). COSTS Those contributing to workshops are required to register for the conference and pay the full delegate fee. NB A minimum of 2 workshop presenters must register for the conference using the online conference registration form and pay the full delegate fee. The 2017 delegate fee is 765 (with 20% discount for ESN members and for delegates from central and eastern European countries and neighbouring EU countries). The delegate fee covers all plenary and workshop sessions across the 3 days of the conference June It also includes daily refreshments, a sandwich lunch (Monday 26 June), a buffet lunch (Tuesday 27 June), a formal Reception (evening of Monday 26 June) and a Gala Dinner (evening of Tuesday 27 June). The delegate fee does not include your hotel accommodation and travel. Please submit a Workshop Proposal when you have ensured the availability of funds by your organisation, including delegate fee, travel, hotel and other costs.