Ida-Virumaa Local Government Social Services Development Program “Turning Point”

Following the administrative reform implemented in 2017, the role and tasks of local governments (hereinafter LGs), as well as the number and size of LG units, changed significantly. This altered situation required new skills from LGs in understanding developmental directions and bottlenecks in the sector, and in better organizing local life.

The development program aimed to increase state support for Ida-Virumaa LGs in fulfilling their social welfare duties, thereby enhancing their capacity to react to sectoral shortcomings in organizing social services and supporting the growth of LG management and institutional capacity.

The program included consultations, training, and the application of service design methodology. This development program was the state's first pilot project, designed to support a single regional area in strategic planning of social services and improving service accessibility.

The contracting authority (Ministry of Social Affairs) planned to draw conclusions from this pilot project on whether the regional approach is effective and if it needs to be implemented further in the future.

The objectives of the program were multifaceted: to increase state support for local governments in Ida-Virumaa in performing their social welfare tasks; to standardize and improve the quality of social welfare assistance measures at the local government level; to support the development of the primary adult social welfare system; and to bring new skills and knowledge to Ida-Virumaa, supporting the overall development of the social sector, taking into account the specifics of Ida-Virumaa local governments.

Further objectives included: equipping Ida-Virumaa local governments with additional knowledge and skills to identify problems arising from societal changes, to see connections between different fields, and to choose appropriate approaches for problem-solving in social sector management and development; and guiding local governments at all levels in shaping attitudes and approaches in social welfare.

As a result of the development program, the organization and practice of social welfare assistance measures offered by Ida-Viru County local governments were harmonized, and the quality of social service provision was improved. Local government leaders became more aware of their role in planning and implementing changes in the social welfare sector.

Local governments, in cooperation with partners, created new and promoted existing cooperation networks in the social welfare sector, and jointly planned the development and organization of social services. They also implemented innovative solutions in providing social services.

Participation of Ida-Virumaa local governments in the open call for proposals funded by the ESF measure “Welfare services supporting participation in the labor market” for the development and provision of new social services increased. Local governments acquired the skill of using service design methodology.

Заказчиком проекта было Министерство социальных дел, а финансирование осуществлялось Европейским социальным фондом.