ESN: A LEARNING

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• ESN A LEARNING
• OPPORTUNITY
• ADSS Cymru Annual Policy Seminar
• 27 November 2008

Stephen Barnett, Senior Policy Officer, European
Social Network
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The Network

• Directors and senior managers of social work and
  social care ca. 10,000 individual members
• Public sector, mainly local government
• Europe-wide over 50 Members across 25 countries
  and growing
• Different structures and responsibilities but

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Shared values

• Different structures and responsibilities, but
  shared values
• Protection of vulnerable people
• Listening to service users and responding
• Respecting the dignity of service users in care
• Pursuit of excellence in social care practice
• Promoting equality and non-discrimination
• Solidarity with people and communities who need
  help

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And shared challenges

• Delivering quality services through partnerships
  and contracts
• Developing community care alternatives to
  institutional care
• Inter-agency working with health, education,
  probation
• ESN Help our Members address those challenges...

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A Learning Network

• Opportunities to talk about shared challenges,
  exchange good practice and work together to
  identify ways forward
• How does it happen?
• Seminar last week in Brussels Commissioning
  for Quality
• Working Group Children Families next week

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A Learning Network
ESN Members Commissioning for Quality Brussels No
v 2008
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A Learning Network
Children and Families Working Group Brighton 2008
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• theme Quality and Performance in Social
  Services better outcomes for people
• over 20 plenary and workshop presentations
• Nordic seminar
• Over 400 delegates from 30 countries
• Official reception and gala dinner

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An Engaged Network

• To make a practice-led contribution to the
  European policy process
• Examples
• Meeting with cabinet of Vladimír Spidla,
  European Commissioner for Social Affairs
• Active Inclusion brochure realising potential!

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An Engaged Network
ESN Members meeting with the Commission Brussels N
ov 2008
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How can you be a part of it?

• European Social Services Conference 2009 22-24
  June, Prague
• Expression of interest in ESN working groups
  2009
• Commissioning for Quality
• Attendance at ESN seminars 2009
• Community care development (deinstitutionalisation
  )
• Children Families

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Find out more
Find out more at www.esn-eu.org Sign up for the
e-newsletter Get in touch stephen.barnett_at_esn-eu
.org Thanks for your attention!