The theme for the 2023 edition of the European Social Services Awards is ‘Promoting Person-centred Care’.
The effectiveness and quality of social services is defined by the outcomes of the people they support. Every day, social services are responding to the increasing number and diversity of requirements and expectations of people that need them. A person-centred approach places the goals, values and preferences of the person, as an expert of their own experience, at the centre in the development and provision of care. Social care systems that are person-centred ensure people receive information they need in a way that is accessible for them, are empowered to make decisions for their care and support, and are supported in a way that responds to their individual needs for care and support.
Under this year’s theme, the Awards will recognise the organisations and people that are rethinking their services to provide care which is centred around the person, coordinated between services and professionals and enables people to live independent lives and be fully included in their communities. The European Social Network wants to give visibility to effective and/or innovative approaches in the delivery of services, workforce management/development, integrated and coordinated services, research and evaluation, and the use of digital and technological tools to provide person-centred care in social services.