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Sheltered employment in five member states of the Council of Europe: Austria, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland
- Authors:
- SAMOY Erik, WATERPLAS Lina
- Publisher:
- Council of Europe
- Publication year:
- 1997
- Pagination:
- 67p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Strasbourg
Comparative study looking at the situation of sheltered employment in the twelve Member States of the European Union. The data for each country is grouped under the following headings: institutional context; target population; access to sheltered employment; characteristics of the people in sheltered employment; and a discussion of the topics currently under debate around sheltered employment in each country.
Comparing local and national service systems in social care Europe: framework and findings from the STEPS anti-discrimination learning disability project
- Authors:
- CAMBRIDGE Paul, ERNST Anne
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 9(3), September 2006, pp.279-303.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper outlines the methodology and findings of a cross-national comparison of social care services for people with learning disabilities in Europe, developed from the EU funded STEPS anti-discrimination project. The comparative framework developed for the project is profiled and summary findings are organised into thematic dimensions. Wide variations in service organisation were evident, providing particular challenges for those involved in cross-national research or social work practice. Key variation was evident between local and national systems, the varying impact of generic and specialist community care and the degree of individualisation in services, with various structural, funding and policy barriers to integrated social work and ongoing de-institutionalisation evident. Development priorities for inclusive and anti-discriminatory practice included individual funding and planning, self-advocacy and user involvement in quality management.
The challenges of European comparative research
- Author:
- WEYTES Arabella
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Europe, 10(1), 2003, pp.1-8.
- Publisher:
- Russell House
Discusses the language difficulties that had to be overcome by the author when undertaking a comparative study of the experience of children in state care in Belgium (the region of Flanders), Great Britain (England), Spain (the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country) and Norway (the region of Hedmark). The countries were selected for the study as they represent specific welfare models. Basque County represents the 'Mediterranean model', England the 'neo-liberal welfare model', Flanders the 'corporatist-conservative' model and Hedmark the 'social-democratic model'. Reference is made to the difficulties of translating concepts rooted in historic and cultural traditions that have shaped current policies and styles of service delivery. Also examines the ways in which the different origins of welfare and social work practices have led to distinct ways of service delivery. To illustrate these factors practitioners were asked to assess what would happen to the child and the family in their country by answering a series of questions. Finally discusses how the use of a common framework to identify needs, set thresholds, chart services and assess outcomes across the countries can be useful for making meaningful international comparisons.