Participation of the NET in the conference of the Federation of European Social Employers
The conference took place in Brussels on the 5th of July 2022 with the following topic: Addressing workforce needs and challenges in social services to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights and the forthcoming EU Care Strategy.
The NETWORK was represented by Dionysis Serras Psychologist, Head of the Research & Development Department of the organization “PLOES”, and head of the European Programs team of the NET.
The experience of the conference was impressive, regarding the perspective that an observer can develop once he/she discovers that they are part of both the problem and the solution at the same time.
Gregor Tomschizek, President of Social Employers opened the event, presenting the key results from the Social Employers survey on staff shortages in social services across Europe.
Subsequently, specific key findings from the soon to be published report on ‘’Current attractiveness’ challenges in the social services sector’’ were presented.
The second part focused on the upcoming European Care Strategy.
During the afternoon session, examples of how to deal with staff shortages in EU member states were presented.
The event concluded with the representatives of employers and social workers from 4 EU countries: Isabelle Le Nan, SCOP Initiatives Formation (FR), Juan Vela, President of Grupo Social Lares (ES), Johan Van Eeghem BBTK (BE), Sandra van den The Braak, Maaike Piet and Bert de Haas, FNV (NL), presenting their experiences and good practices in addressing the challenges of the workforce of the social services sector.
One can say that the conference highlighted, both the importance of investments in the sector and the adaptation of employee training to current needs as well as the essential role of social dialogue in addressing current and future challenges.
EASPD International Conference: Quality of Life & Support Services: From Words to Action, 13-14 October 2022
The conference will aim to inspire support services to implement modern quality measurement models focusing on improving the quality of life of the people they support. Hosted in St Paul’s Bay, Malta the conference will take place on 13th-14th October 2022.
Rationale of the conference
Measuring the quality of services for persons with disabilities is a challenging mission for most service providers. The challenges arise not only from the lack of a mutually agreed definition on what quality is but also on how it can be measured efficiently and how it can further help services improve!
Even if, in most of the countries, the assessment of quality in services is set out in legislation, they do not specify methodologies, indicators, and do not define quality. In certain countries the assessment of quality follows procedures, such as formal inspection visits, that often do not provide services with the necessary means to develop and improve. However, there seems to be a general interest, also on the EU level, to improve the quality of services and the quality assessment processes.
This conference is co-organised with Agenzija Sapport, an EASPD member and Malta’s National Agency that provides professional and innovative services to enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities and their families.
The conference will aim to inspire support services to implement modern quality measurement models focusing on improving the quality of life of the people they support. It will further showcase how such models can help service providers move forward towards better quality, empowering and person-centred forms of support, aligned with the UN CRPD principles.
This conference will:
- provide participants with a good understanding on the situation across Europe on innovative quality measurement systems.
- discuss the challenges and opportunities that this process may bring for support services.
- will bring two experiences from Scotland and Malta on how different levels (macro – meso – micro) can work together to support service development and improvement.
- conclude with representatives from the EU, public authorities, services providers, and persons with disabilities identifying the next steps.
Highlight of the conference:
- Participants will have the opportunity to participate in training sessions focused on different elements related to the operation/ management of a service, on person-centred and family-centred planning, quality measurement models and co-production, among others.
Learn More: https://www.easpdconference.eu/
Two-Day Conference: "Social Dialogue in the Field of Social Services in Greece"
On June the 2nd and 3rd, a two-day conference was held in Athens as part of the European FORESEE program on Social Dialogue in the field of Social Services in Greece.
The two-day conference was attended, among others, by: the Federation of European Social Employers, the European Federation of Public Service Unions, the Secretary General of Social Solidarity and the Fight against Poverty, TO DIKTYO, SKLE, OMED and the University of West Attica.
The participants had the opportunity to obtain, from the guest speakers, a clear and documented picture of the definition of Social Dialogue in Europe and Greece, both at institutional and actual level.
The necessity to strengthen the Social Dialogue in Greece was particularly highlighted since, as it was pointed out, although the State has the necessary institutional framework, the necessary steps regarding the ability of employers’ and employees’ organizations to cope with its formal and substantive conditions, have not been taken.
NET and EASPD Event
In a beautiful and emotionally charged meeting, the newly established Greek “NET” of Service Providers for People with Disabilities, the Greek State and the pan-European umbrella of -20,000 and more- service providers for People with Disabilities, EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities), made the official announcement of the start of their cooperation at national and European level.
The event was honored by the Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Panagiotis Pikrammenos and the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs, in the presence of the Minister Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis, the Deputy Minister Mrs. Domna Michailidou, the Secretary General of Social Solidarity & Solidarity. Stamatis & the Head of Policies for the Support of Children with Disabilities Mr. Dimitris Nikolski. The Attica Region also honored the event, through its representative, Deputy Regional Minister of Finance & Chairman of the Economic Committee of the Region Mr. Nikolaos Peppas & the Authorized Advisor of the Social Welfare Department of the Office of the Governor of Attica, Mrs. Eugenia Barbayannis.
The event was accompanied by the presence of the General Secretary of EASPD, Mr. Luk Zelderloo, his important associates and the newly elected representative of Greece in the Board of EASPD, Mrs. Agapi Papadakis.
In his greeting, Mr. Zelderloo pointed out that “… what these organizations have achieved by setting up the” NET” is unique… they have managed to get out of their safety box and think ambitiously. And this is exactly the network, to think ambitiously “, a fact that was also signed on behalf of” NET “by the Chairman of the Board. and President of I.P.AP. “The Virgin”, Mr. Erotokritos Neophytos saying that “Our goal is to use all scientific tools and best global practices to contribute to the creative development of our special population.”
Conference: Early Intervention in Greece
The NET in collaboration with EASPD organized the conference entitled “Early Intervention in Greece”, which took place in Athens, while it was also broadcast online via Zoom. Following the work of Technical Assistance provided by EASPD in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor in selected Institutions of the country, with emphasis on the family-centered model of intervention, the event contributed to the dialogue around scientific issues and good practices in the area of Early Intervention in Greece.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Health, Mrs. Zoe Rapti, the Member of the European Parliament of New Democracy Mr. Stelios Kimbouropoulos and the Head of Policies for the Support of Children with Disabilities of the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs, Mr. Dimitris Nikolski. The presence and participation of the Secretary General of the EASPD, Ms. Maya Doneva, was particularly honorable.
International Conference: "The Future of the Right to Work: What Role for the Social Economy"
The NET attended the international conference organized by EASPD in Zagreb, Croatia. The theme of the conference: “The future of the right to work: What is the role of the social economy”.
The conference presented good practices from across Europe on different models of supported work and the need to create an inclusive labor market by offering quality jobs to people with disabilities.