Selected Papers from the 31st European Social Services Conference 2023: Advancing Social Services—The Role of Technology in Promoting Autonomy and Inclusion

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 3411

Special Issue Editors

Department of Social Work and Social Care, School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Interests: collaboration between public sectors; innovation and implementation; strengths-based practice; leadership in health and social care
Department of Public Policy, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, 02-554 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: ageing; intergenerational relationships; gerontology; silver economy; public policy; social policy; governance; social innovation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In collaboration with the 31st European Social Services Conference (ESSC) of the European Social Network, to be held in Malmö, Sweden, on 14–16 June 2023, we invite the submission of papers presented at the conference for inclusion in a Special Issue of Social Sciences. There will be no charge for papers submitted to the Special Issue. In line with the conference, the Special Issue will focus on accelerating the digital and technological transformation of social services by governments, public authorities, and agencies involved in their development. It will also discuss how technological advancements can help improve the delivery of social services by simplifying the access and sharing of information, enhancing coordination between services, encouraging early intervention, supporting decision-making, and promoting people’s autonomy and choice. The Special Issue seeks to gather theoretical, empirical and practical findings relating to this area of practice and study.

Only contributions already included in the conference programme can be accepted. The following article types are encouraged: brief report, case report, communication, essay, hypothesis, opinion, perspective, project report, and review. Authors can submit an abstract to the editors of the Special Issue in advance of submitting a full article so that the editors can provide initial feedback and opportunities to strengthen the submission. Abstracts can be submitted through the Special Issue website.

Potential themes of papers can focus on, but are not limited to, the following issues:

  1. Technology/digitalisation promoting integrated care and support and system interoperability
  • Promotion of social inclusion.
  • Encouraging personal autonomy and empowering people.
  • Enabling early intervention and the prevention of harm.
  1. Technology improving the experience of people using services
  • New digital solutions developed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Simple and effective solutions to bridge the digital divide and engage populations farthest from IT.
  • Use of innovative technology to help communities thrive.
  • Technology and IT system developments to promote personal autonomy.
  • IT platforms to provide improved access to services.
  1. Leveraging data
  • Automating processes and systems.
  • Building prevention strategies.
  • Supporting evidence-based policymaking.
  • Evaluating and improving services’ quality.
  • Modernising child protection management systems.
  • Modernising integrated long-term care.
  1. Modernising organisations and supporting workforce development
  • IT modernisation journey.
  • Research-led technology developments in social services.
  • Digital means and technology supporting professionals.
  • Digital means and technology supporting informal carers and families/relatives of people using social services.
  • Ethical standards for technology and data-driven processes and programmes.

Prof. Dr. Robin Miller
Dr. Andrzej Klimczuk
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • accessibility
  • autonomy
  • co-production
  • data management
  • digitalisation
  • e-health
  • inequalities
  • information and communication technologies
  • integrated care and support
  • inter-professional education
  • implementation
  • interoperability
  • labour market
  • leadership
  • poverty
  • primary care
  • social and solidarity economy
  • social care
  • social inclusion
  • social innovation
  • social policy
  • social security
  • social services
  • social work
  • welfare state
  • workforce

Published Papers (3 papers)

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0 pages, 819 KiB  
Project Report
Enhancing Early Risk Detection for Reduced Earning Capacity: The Development of the padaCura App
by Regina Weißmann, Annette Grimmel-Bruhns, Corinna Manuela Busacker and Fanny Lara Clara Loth
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13010001 - 19 Dec 2023
Viewed by 857
Abstract
In Germany, 1.7 million individuals received reduced earning capacity pensions in 2020, but reintegrating them into the labor market remains challenging. For individuals who have a reduced earning capacity, this often leads to adverse consequences (e.g., low quality of life, poverty, social stigma). [...] Read more.
In Germany, 1.7 million individuals received reduced earning capacity pensions in 2020, but reintegrating them into the labor market remains challenging. For individuals who have a reduced earning capacity, this often leads to adverse consequences (e.g., low quality of life, poverty, social stigma). The project ‘Cooperation for prevention, fitness and health in the job center (KOPF22)’ focuses on early risk detection and prevention strategies for clients of the job center (who are recipients of Citizen’s Income) as they face various challenges in maintaining their ability to work. The padaCura App, a key component of the project, assesses the risk of reduced earning capacity using an ICF-based questionnaire. It offers immediate feedback reports to clients, categorizing their risk levels and suggesting actions in plain language with visual aids. Since the project emphasizes the client’s autonomy and voluntary participation, clients decide how to proceed with their results. If they decide to cooperate with the job center, then several offers for prevention and intervention measures can be used to increase employability. The first evaluations of the app and the questionnaire demonstrate its effectiveness in differentiating between employable persons and incapacitated individuals. Future developments should focus on enhancing the result reports to include more targeted interventions and on collaboration between employment support resources and healthcare systems to meet clients’ needs. Full article
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13 pages, 1064 KiB  
Case Report
Cognitive Support Technology for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Factors for Successful Implementation
by Michiel de Looze, Ellen Wilschut, Reinier Könemann, Kim Kranenborg and Harry De Boer
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(11), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12110622 - 08 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1009
Abstract
In Europe, large numbers of people with disabilities are willing to work but have problems finding a job. One of the barriers to this is job complexity, particularly for those with low education, low IQ, or cognitive impairments. Digital technologies might help. Specifically, [...] Read more.
In Europe, large numbers of people with disabilities are willing to work but have problems finding a job. One of the barriers to this is job complexity, particularly for those with low education, low IQ, or cognitive impairments. Digital technologies might help. Specifically, cognitive support technology (CST) has the potential to make jobs less complex and thus more accessible. CST may concern step-by-step digital instructions presented with monitors, tablets, smart phones, beamer projections, or near-eye displays. Based on cross-case evaluations, we aimed to define the success factors in the process of technology selection, development, and implementation. Four cases, situated at public social firms which offer jobs to people with disabilities, were selected. In each case, the optimal form of CST was selected. A qualitative analysis of subjective experiences of work accessibility, performance, usability, and acceptance was applied. The results were positive for most participants in most cases. Once installed, the CST was successful in simplifying jobs. A proportion of the workforce for which a specific job had been considered too complex was able to perform that job when supported by CST. Moreover, a majority of people judged the usability of the technology positively. For the consecutive steps of selection, development, and implementation, we ended up with eleven factors of success; these included, among others, shared and transparent decision making (in technology selection), the iterative and active involvement of workers to optimally adjust work instructions (in technology development), and explicit attention for psychosocial barriers (in technology implementation). Full article
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14 pages, 1940 KiB  
Project Report
Into the Great Wide Open—From Classroom to Virtual Learning
by Charney Weitzman and Jan Perrin
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(11), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12110604 - 30 Oct 2023
Viewed by 914
Abstract
This paper charts the journey from classroom-based training delivery to hybrid and virtual learning opportunities used to overcome the challenges imposed by public health restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public health measures introduced in March 2020 had a significant [...] Read more.
This paper charts the journey from classroom-based training delivery to hybrid and virtual learning opportunities used to overcome the challenges imposed by public health restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public health measures introduced in March 2020 had a significant effect on the ability of the Children First Information and Advice Service (CFIAS), in Tusla, Ireland’s Child and Family Agency, to deliver services. One of the key tools used by the CFIAS to support understanding of responsibilities, and best practice, in child safeguarding by professionals, and within organisations, has been the provision of direct training and information sessions. The introduction of public health restrictions necessitated a complete rethink by the CFIAS on how child safeguarding training and information are delivered. The paper presents an outline of the background and context of child safeguarding in Ireland, followed by a description of some of the challenges experienced by the CFIAS in response to the pandemic public health restrictions. It includes discussion on strategies and solutions considered to overcome these challenges. There is further discussion on the tools and methods eventually used, followed by a reflection on lessons learned by the CFIAS in areas including training delivery and methodology, eLearning, and information provision. The paper provides an analysis of limited qualitative and quantitative data, as well as a reflection on the lived experience of the CFIAS team members responding to the challenges posed during this time period, rather than a preplanned research study on pedagogical approaches in adult learning. Full article
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