Brigitta Zierer FH Campus Wien brigitta.zierer@fh-campuswien.ac.at Social Work, Social Policy and Social Economy in Austria Inter University Congress Dubrovnik, June 2011 Seite 1
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Austria: Politics > Republican-democratic constitution > 9 federal provinces (Bundesländer) incl. Vienna > 1945-1980:» constant economic growth» low unemployment» expansion of the service sector and welfare state > after World War II.: Social Partnership: symbol of change and reconstruction process, economic growth, social stability and freedom (= cooperation and dialogue on economical and social issues) > 1970ies: Austro-Keynesianism: against social and economic destabilisation (under chancellor Kreisky) > Since 1995: member of the European Union Seite 3
The principles of the social security system: > covering the risks of age, sickness, (work) accidents and unemployment > Legislative competences (divided between state & federal states): social insurance, labour law, labour market policy, family services > 2nd social network = social welfare/assistance (Sozialhilfe) funded by federal provinces and communities > Since September 2010: requirements-oriented minimum substistence ( one-stop-shop between public employment service and social welfare/ assistance-offices); Social workers (re)activate clients to (re)join the labour market Seite 4
Since 1990ies: Austria: Economic Trends» lower economic growth» lower real wage increases» increasing internationalisation» growing competition pressure for business locations» pressure on labour expenses» public expenditure and changes in working conditions» to meet the Maastricht-criteria: More private, less state Seite 5
Austria: Statistic Data > 8,3 million inhabitants (16% born outside of Austria; 9,2% with non-austrian citizenship) > demographic development trend: aging society ( contract of generations has to be redefined) > fifth richest region in Europe (EUROSTAT, 2007) > high living-standard > relatively high per-capita-income > relatively equal distribution of income > Unemployment rate (2010): 6,9% (6,2% women, 7,5% men migrants: 9,6%)» 251.000 persons (145.000 men - 106.000 women) Seite 6
Austria: Statistic data > increasing number of recipients of social welfare > increasing costs for nursing care (for elderly persons) > decreasing number of full-time-employed persons ( Generation Placement ) > 12,4 % of the population was threatened by poverty (1,02 mio persons) = long term unemployed, migrants, single parents, families with more than 2 children > 5% of the population is in manifest poverty (according to EU-SILC, 2008) Seite 7
Financing the social sector > target: reducing the costs of the social sector > arguments for the evidence of its economic benefits > proving efficiency and effectiveness in organisations > PPP: public-private-partnership: new form of competition between the public and private sector > service contracts regulate target(group)-related commisioner-contractor-relationships (purchaserprovider-split) > public tender (rules) (Bundesvergabegesetz, 2004): from 2004-2010 tendering for services in the public sector until 40.000,-; from 2011 less tendering, because of the global economic crisis the amount Schwellenwert - was increased to 100.000,-) Seite 8
Financing the social sector > neoliberal tendencies: influenced by global economic discussions (e.g. New Deal, UK) > competition with new EU-neighbour-states (HU, SK) > 2011: discussion about new kinds of cooperation between communities to reduce costs > Vienna:example: Vienna Social Fund (since 2001) for approx. 150 organisations in the social sector > Organisations closed to churches and political parties (but state- or community-financed) > ideal (additional) model? state + private services (+ families + voluntary sector) Seite 9
Effects to Social Work > more orientation towards service users > New Public Management and slender administration > time-limited service contracts > to be able for tendering (and competition) > to be able for cost-benefits-analysis > to be able to define success- and risk-criterias > cost management/calculation/transparency > consequence: organizations focuse on their core target groups > Who is taking care of those, who do not belong to the target-group? Seite 10
Effects to Social Work > Knowledge about controlling, cost control > Knowledge about Social Marketing > Knowledge about Fundraising and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) > being closed to clients and have a look to organizational conditions for good work > adressing questions/needs/problems of special target groups to politically responsible persons/representatives and groups > Social Work has to explain the professional tasks > to be aware: Social Work is always working under changing conditions (they have to be identified first) Seite 11
Social Work in Austria > Social Work Training: since 90 years > until: 2001: Akademie für Sozialarbeit (3-yearstraining, post-secondary-sector) > Profession, on the way in the direction to a discipline > Since 2001/02: 4-years-Diploma Studies (at Universities of Applied Sciences) degree: Mag.(FH) > Since 2006/07:» Bachelor-programmes (3 years, 180 ECTS)» Master-programmes (2 years, 120 ECTS) mostly with specification in Vienna at FH Campus Wien: SOWOSEC: Social Economy & Social Work Social Space Orientation & Clinical Social Work > little experience with PhD. (at Universities) Seite 12
Social Workers in Austria > since 2008: BAGS = new salary-scheme for social workers (8 levels) > no professional law or register > job-situation: more short contracts (not permanent jobs), less jobs in the public sector, less full-time-jobs, new (small) trend: self employed social workers > in competition on the labour market with: psychologists, social-pedagogs, psychotherapists, counsellors/coaches > top social work method: Case Management Seite 13
Main Work Fields for Social Workers in Austria: 1. For families: public child/youth welfare, crisis centres etc. 2. Material Security: Social assistance, Debt Counselling, Homelessness, etc. 3. Health: in hospitals, ambulant/extramural/stationary psychiatric assistance, rehabilitation, for persons with special needs etc.) 4. Labor market qualification: projects and qualification trainings for unemployed persons, socio economic enterprises etc.) 5. For criminal offenders: in prisons, probation service, mediation for offenders, after care for ex-prisoners Seite 14
Main Work Fields for Social Workers in Austria: 6. For Migrants and Asylum seekers: counselling centres with different focus (labor market, integration, women, human trafficking etc.) 7. For elderly persons: in geriatric day-care-centres, ambulant services, elderly homes, etc. 8. In mobile youth work: Street work, Youth centres, outreach work etc. (near social pedagogs) 9. For women/girls, men/boys: women s shelters, intervention centres for women who are affected from domestic violence, women counsel women ; counselling centre for men (incl. working with offenders) 10. Social Planning/Community Work/Regional development/neighbourhood-work ( Agenda 21 ) Seite 15
Austria: Trends in Social Work The tightrope walk Seite 16
Austria: Trends in Social Work > tightrope walk : the compatibility between» the interests of clients» the interests of stakeholders» the interests of the society» the interests of the scientific communicty» ethic aspects» ideological discussions ( Who is really in needs? ),» Discussions about activation and» international developments > brushing up the image and self confidence of the profession > demand on independant research and at the same time little money for science (projects) Seite 17
Austria: Trends in Social Work > convincing stakeholders about the relevance, quality and (long lasting) effects and sustainability of SW > growing economic pressure on Social work, Quality assurance measures and Evidence-based practice > less low-threshold offers (concentration on target groups with social service-contracts) > less home visits (although increasing numbers of hardcore-cases e.g.in child protection) > more documentation/bureaucracy procedures > new area: public security and safety > (possible) new work field: green (ecological) projects in the social sector Seite 18
Austria: Trends in Social Work > How to use much more Social Media (Facebook etc.) in Social work? > the changing behaviour of clients: they are more selfconfident, complaining etc. (redefinition of the relationship client <->Social worker, discussions about security aspects for Social workers etc. ) > the role of mass media: how to deal with worst-casestories in media? > avoiding, that other professions take over fields of SW > Social workers as Entrepreneurs (self-employed) > Labour market for Social workers:» opened for SW from other EU-coutries (competition)» new situation with MA-degrees: consequences? Seite 19
Thank you for your attention! Seite 20
Questions for the Group discourse: 1. Can Social Workers avoid, that the state disappears concerning the political responsibility for social affairs? 2. Is the tightrope walk possible between a) client-centred work and b) managing an organization? 3. Social Work: a permanent learning profession? Seite 21