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Aim of the EQUAL development partnership |
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Principle
The aim of the EQUAL development partnership, "DONAU - QUALITY IN INCLUSION", is to develop quality criteria for the area of social work so as to lay the foundations for tenders according to the "best bidder" principle.
The development of the conditions within the European Union for the supply of services within the third sector through social organisations leads to further liberalisation. The development partnership DONAU - QUALITY IN INCLUSION is developing quality criteria for the assessment of offers in a trialogic process. Objectives
Uses of the development partnership Preparation of quality criteria for the area of social work using individual scopes of activities Reflection over the significance of procurement law for social organisations To lay the foundations for tenders according to the "best bidder" principle as opposed to "cheapest bidder"
In order to achieve this, criteria for assessment of social work are being prepared within the development partnership DONAU. These are being developed in a joint process amongst clients, social institutions, employees and their target groups.
A significant task is the strengthening of social organisations. Social economy enterprises are predominantly dependant on contracts from the authorities. Increasingly, financing according to procurement law is taking place and these mainly involve presentation and assessment of price and quality of a service for tenders, preparation of bids and contract allocation. In order to enable tenders according to the "best bidder" principle, quality oriented criteria must be formulated and conveyed in a public discussion for services in the social economy. Following the "best bidder" principle benefits society, the clients affected by the exclusion and also the public institutions offering tenders, and contribute to the development of the quality of the work of employees of a constantly growing employment market in the social economy.
With the clear description and widespread adoption of quality standards in social work/social economy, the transparency of social work and its uses is increased. This can facilitate negotiation and agreements with institutions commissioning contracts and providers of financing and serves an effective form of social work, which guarantees the best possible support of its target groups. The preparation occurs in 5 modules. Module 1 What is quality?
The tasks in this module involve the reflection over the discourse on quality in the area of social work and the laying of the foundations for quality tenders and contract allocation by bodies responsible for social work.
As part of the development (action research), the criteria for quality are developed, put together with the input of the other modules, tested in the modules and improved using those experiments. Module 2 Social Space work
As part of this module, social space oriented initiatives and development projects are being accompanied by expertise and moderation, and cooperation with interested organisations, local governments, initiatives and authorities are being set up. More information on http://www.sozialraum.at. Module 3 Fostering
The aim of this module is to work out the criteria and standards, in a dialogue process with care institutions and youth welfare authorities that are to enable the client to make decisions on fostering measures based on quality.
Module 4 Specialist standards of social work - yesterday today tomorrow
Historical development lines in the field of speciality know-how and relevance to action today in the social economy are processed with social organisations and considered within a network. The aim is to establish specialist positions and standards in combination with quality transactions in social work from a historical, current and future perspective. Significant networking activities are being conducted through the Internet platform http://www.sozialearbeit.at/. Module 5 Assistance to the homeless/housing
In a module project with assistance to the homeless/housing employees, new methods of social work are being considered and tested through specific methods (solution focussing, holistic orientation). In this way, quality in the workplace for employees is also improved and a contribution to their qualification is made.
SocialResponse.at - National Network
The 5 development partnerships in the area of social economy make up the national network "SocialRepsonse.at". This leads to the exchange of knowledge on a national level. Joint events will take place, and publications are to be made as part of cooperations.
More information on www.socialresponse.at.
Other than DONAU - QUALITY IN INCLUSION, the national network include the development partnerships "Econet Austria", "Improve", "PSPP - Public Social Private Partnership” and “Sowi Cluster Steyr Kirchdorf“.
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Transnational Network
"On the right way – the way to quality“
This trans-national cooperation involves working with development partnerships from Italy, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The aim of this collaboration is above all the exchange of information, experience and knowledge on the topic of quality in social work and standards for quality management from the point of view of five different European countries. | Italy: | Enterprise | | Germany: | proEQUIP – Beschäftigungspotenziale in der Sozialwirtschaft in Südwestsachsen (Employment potential in the social economy in South-west Saxony)
| | Slovakia: | Rada pre poradenstvo v sociálnej práci (RPSP) („The Board for Advising in Social Work“)
| | Czech Republic: | Development of social welfare services and education of social workers |
Gender Mainstreaming
As part of the quality discussion, equality relevant criteria are almost always lacking. The gender mainstreaming strategy in the development partnership therefore aims at the implementation of the term "gender competency" in the quality discourse of social work and attempts to anchor equality as a feature of quality of an organisation.
Within the European Union initiative EQUAL, 18 organisations have teamed up on the development partnership DONAU - QUALITY IN INCLUSION.
Operative partners
Strategic partners
Contact:
Development partnership DONAU - QUALITY IN INCLUSION
Heinrich-Schneidmadlstrasse 15, 3100 St. Pölten
Tel.: +43 2742 313 228 550
Fax: +43 2742 313 228 509
www.donau-quality.at
mail:
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DONAU - QUALITY IN INCLUSION is sponsored by European social funds and the Federal Ministry for Economy and Employment General coordination and financial responsibility FH St. Pölten
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