INNOSERV An FP7 project on innovative social services 8 October 2012 Social Economy Category Round table, EESC Elsa Laino, SOLIDAR Social Services Project Officer
Who we are SOLIDAR is a European network of NGOs working to advance social justice in Europe and worldwide. With 59 member organisations based in 25 countries (20 of which are EU countries), member organisations are national NGOs in Europe, as well as some non-eu and EU-wide organisations, working in one or more of our fields of activity. The network is brought together by its shared values of solidarity, equality and participation.
What we do in the field of social economy and social services SOLIDAR calls for the full recognition and promotion of the social economy as an alternative economic model that links economic performance with the realisation of social, health, employment and housing policy goals. SOLIDAR works to influence EU legislation to ensure the provision of affordable and high-quality social services, which are crucial for developing social cohesion, realising social inclusion and safeguarding the fundamental rights of individual service users.
Social innovation in the social service sector SOLIDAR member organisations include, among others, social, health, educational service providers and volunteering organisations, having a long-term experience and commitment in providing affordable and high quality services which makes them a driver of social innovation. Our members have a key role in identifying social needs, developing innovative approaches, designing and evaluating policies as well as in scaling up innovative practices.
Social innovation in EU policies and programmes Social innovation is an increasingly central area of policy and research in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy, although there is no justiciable EU definition yet. Main European programmes promoting social innovation: o Agenda 2020, target on innovation (3% of GDP in R&D/innovation) o Innovation Union flagship o Horizon 2020 o EC pilot project called Social Innovation Europe o EU Programme for Social Change and Innovation (EUPSCI) o ESF supporting scaling up and facilitating capacity building o Investment priorities in ERDF (social innovation is considered an investment priority with focus on sustainable urban development).
INNOSERV Project InnoServ, Social Platform on innovative Social Services, is a project funded under the EU 7th Research Framework Programmes (DG Research & Innovation) The project responds to the FP7-Cooperation call FP7-SSH- 2011-3 for a support action concerning the creation of a social platform on innovative social services. Funding scheme: Coordination and Support Action (CSA) Max. EU contribution: 1.5 million Euro Duration: 24 months (starting from 1 February 2012) SOLIDAR is a European partner
INNOSERV European partners Project Coordinator: Heidelberg University, Germany Consortium partners: Budapest Institute for Policy Analysis, Budapest, Hungary Diakonhjemmet University College, Oslo, Norway European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), Brussels, Belgium European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), Valencia, Spain Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, United Kingdom Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Hamburg, Germany Istituto per la Ricerca Sociale, Area Politiche della Formazione e del Lavoro, Bologna, Italy SOLIDAR, Brussels, Belgium Université Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne, Paris, France University of Roskilde, Denmark
INNOSERV Overall objectives To explore the key factors for innovation in the provision of health, education and welfare services across Europe focusing on the theoretical discussion as well as on the empirical evidence. To establish a social platform on innovative social services bringing together representatives of the research, practice and policy communities in the field of social service planning, provision and evaluation. To assess mutually recent trends in science, practice and policy, to identify knowledge gaps and to propose research questions to address them. To develop a strategic research agenda for various aspects of innovative service planning, provision and evaluation that can be used for further EC programmes.
INNOSERV The approach Diagnosis of the current trends and directions from literature research and analysis of policy documents concerning social services in Europe. Identification of practical examples showing various aspects of innovative service ideas already put into practice and mapping of the most important drivers of and challenges to the improvement of innovative solutions at local level. Production of 20 short visual examples of innovative services. Dissemination of the knowledge acquired combining theoretical insights with practical examples of innovative services. Organisation of international workshops and conferences involving a wide range of stakeholders.
INNOSERV Working definitions Social innovations are new ideas that work in meeting social objectives. Innovation refers to the capacity to create and implement novel ideas, whereas social refers to the kind of value that innovation is expected to deliver ie. quality of life and work, solidarity and well-being. In the social service sector, social innovation means new practices, policies or processes to meet social needs and address social challenges by improving the delivery, availability, quality, effectiveness, and/or efficiency of an existing service or to create a new service to better meet users needs.
INNOSERV First results A literature review on innovation in social services has been carried out in 13 languages. More than 150 local examples of innovative social services have been collected. Criteria and drivers of social innovation have been identified in a framework model. A European compared selection of 20 innovative practices has been carried out.
INNOSERV First results Literature review Social innovation should be evidence-based and sustainably improve beneficiaries quality of life and work. A first set of criteria to identify innovation in social services are: o Novelty: New ideas or innovative combination of pre-existing ideas. o Improvement: Ability to improve the efficiency of pre-existing solutions. o Sustainability: Environmental, economic and organisational sustainability. Criteria of innovation need to include change (in roles, relations, norms and values).
INNOSERV First results Local examples of innovative social services 168 examples collected. Most of the services have been set up to tackle unmet social needs. Types of innovation identified: o New forms of service delivery (i.e. participation of different stakeholders such as users, Universities, social enterprises). o New services meeting unmet social needs. o New financial resources. o Specific targeted actions.
INNOSERV First results Drivers of innovation in the social service sector Combining theoretical trends with practical examples, the following key social challenges and changes driving innovation have been identified: o Demographic changes o Changing social patterns (new paradigms, independent living, aspiration etc.) o Inequalities o Economic and social consequences of the crisis (i.e. reduced financial support for social services providers) o Technological developments (i.e. medical advance) o Organisational changes/restructuring managment style
INNOSERV Criteria framework
INNOSERV Criteria framework Level of response
INNOSERV Criteria framework Hallmarks of innovation Contextual fit and transferibility from one context to another, given the diversity of social services contexts within the EU. Improving availability, accessibility, affordability, quality and sustainability of social services. Making progress towards the headline targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Maximising social impact : empowerment of users, social inclusion and participation in society, social cohesion, urban regeneration.
INNOSERV First results European compared selection of innovative practices The selection of 20 innovative examples has been guided by the following questions: o Does the reason for starting the innovative social service match with one of the drivers identified in the relevant service field? o In which way does the service respond to the drivers? (5 categories of responses have been identified) o How can we classify novelty in this service? o What are the other hallmarks of the service?
INNOSERV Next steps What When INNOSERV Platform online October 2012 Visualisation and case studies March 2013 International workshops May 2013 Final research agenda January 2014
Contacts INNOSERV website: www.inno-serv.eu Project coordinator: o Prof. Dr. Johannes Eurich (johannes.eurich@dwi.uniheidelberg.de) o Anika Strifler (anika.strifler@dwi.uni-heidelberg.de) SOLIDAR staff involved in the project: o Adeline Otto, Social Affairs Coordinator (adeline.otto@solidar.org) o Elsa Laino, Social Services Project Officer (elsa.laino@solidar.org)
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