Implementation of ‘One family, one plan’ in Flemish youth welfare services

  • We develop a methodical and organisational framework to improve access to the appropriate youth welfare services.
  • In brief:
    • A single support plan is put together by social workers in conjunction with the family.
    • Professionals view family members and their circumstances as equal partners in cooperation.
    • Faster and better coordinated assistance.
    • We offer scientific support for these new partnerships.

 

Contact

bie.melis@kdg.be
+32 3 613 12 39

  • Research duration: 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2022
  • Social Inclusion Research Centre
  • Funding channel: PWO project
  • Project partners:
    • Samen1plan
    • Welzijnsoverleg Regio Gent
    • Samenwerkingsverband Voor- en Noorderkempen

One support plan

The existing fragmented provision of welfare facilities makes it difficult for vulnerable families to navigate or access youth welfare services. Others opt out because they are overwhelmed by numerous services, each creating a separate support plan. The Flemish government wants to focus on faster and better coordinated assistance. Their starting point is 1Gezin1Plan; a concept that is already operational in the Netherlands, where social workers put together a single support plan in conjunction with the family.

In 2018, after a call by the Flemish government, 12 regional youth welfare partnerships started to implement the 1Gezin1Plan concept in practice.

The basic principle of 1Gezin1Plan implies that professionals see family members and their circumstances as equal partners in cooperation. Families themselves assume control of their assistance process. Social workers strive to empower individuals and strengthen people and networks. While these terms have been in common use in the Flemish youth sector for some time, their practical implementation is not straightforward. It demands a new role and position of the social worker. Moreover, working together within an interdisciplinary network presents both opportunities and new challenges. Hence, the new partnerships are the parties in need of scientific support.

Research question

This research allows us to illustrate how partnerships in the Flemish youth welfare landscape are shaping 1Gezin1Plan. We investigate how supervisors implement their new role and the perceived added value for both supervisors and aid recipients.

We address our research question by setting up a research campaign in two partnerships, which operate with an interprofessional team made up of social workers from different participating youth welfare organisations. In collaboration with the involved parties, we explore how a partnership can aid in devising an effective assistance plan for the family or minor concerned and expedite access to appropriate help. The end result is a methodical and organisational framework to improve access to the appropriate youth welfare services.

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You can collaborate with our research centre Social Inclusion on topics such as:

  • Environmental analysis, empowerment measurement, or custom scientific support.
  • Expertise on care, assistance and community building.
  • Impact measurements.

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