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The 2024 European Social Services Conference

The European Social Services Conference (ESSC) is the annual flagship event of the European Social Network (ESN), the leading network for public social services in Europe. The ESSC is the largest public social welfare policy and practice forum in Europe, attended by almost 700 delegates in Antwerp in 2024.

At the 32nd European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2024) we discussed how we can co-create community-based social services, with a specific focus on three thematic strands: Co-Creating Cities Social Inclusion, Co-Creating Responses to Manage the Future Workforce, and Co-Creating Digital Solutions for Social Inclusion.

The conference highlighted the various aspects related to social inclusion planning and its impact on vulnerable populations, different planning and management strategies, integrated service delivery, co-production between professionals, service users, and their families, as well as the importance of digital social inclusion in technological advancements within social services.

Take a look back at the best of our 2024 edition.

Catch the key moments from the 32nd European Social Services Conference, where experts tackled urban inclusion, future workforce challenges, and digital solutions for social services. Discover key insights on improving social inclusion and service delivery.

View the Photo Gallery

Presentations

Revisit the insightful presentations delivered by our esteemed speakers. Download the slides here and delve into the valuable insights shared during the conference. (Available exclusively for delegates.)

Speakers and Programme

Meet the speakers here!

Discover the 2024 Programme here!

Read the conference report here!

Multilingual Experience

 We are committed to inclusivity and accessibility. All conference sessions are available not only in English but also in French, German, Italian, and Spanish to ensure a diverse and global participation.

Register Now!

The 2024 European Social Services Conference will bring together leaders in social services to inspire ideas on co-creating the future of community-based social services. Register here to join the largest forum in Europe on social work policy and practice

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How to register

Join us to exchange insights and shape the future of community-based social services through local planning, delivery, and evaluation. 

 

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Join the Practice Fair

A dedicated conference session to enable registered organisations to present their projects and initiatives to all the conference delegates. Contact Francesco Capuani to find out how you can get involved. 

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Conference Bursary Programme

Are you a user of social services or have experience in the delivery of care or social services? Find out about support to participate through our conference bursary programme.

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Speakers

Meet the speakers for the ESSC2024! ESN is building an engaging programme with speakers on community development, supporting the social services workforce and the use of technology to promote social inclusion.


Contribute to the Conference Programme

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Conference Webinar Programme

ESN has joined with our conference industry partners to organise a series of webinars to discuss different ways in which technology and digitalisation are transforming social services. Find out more here.

You can still submit your proposal to present at ESSC 2024 until 27 November 2023 for proposals submitted in French, Spanish, German, Italian and 1 December 2023 for proposals submitted in English. Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your innovative projects and ideas to an international audience!

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Who can apply?

Are you working on social services co-creation in public authorities, universities, research centres, the industry or third sector organisations? 

If you answered yes, submit your proposal for the 2024 European Social Services Conference here.

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How to apply?

You can submit a maximum of 2 proposals per organisation for Case Study or Workshop, thematic panel discussion, project Forum and practice Fair.

Find out more about the types of sessions and the application process here.

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6 reasons to register

Discover here the top 6 reasons to register for the 2024 European Social Services Conference and be part of the transformative dialogue shaping the future of social welfare.

Become a partner

Find out how your organisation could become a conference partner, opening up numerous possibilities for brand visibility.

Key speakers

Senior Regional Advisor for Europe and Central Asia – Child Protection, UNICEF
Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver
Expert Digital Health, Director Connected Society, RISE Research Institutes, Sweden
Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies

Conference VenueS

GET INVOLVED

Highlights from ESSC 2023

Public social services are facing a significant number of challenges in relation to increasing social demands and expectations. Digital and technology innovation are key in supporting public authorities to undertake large 

Highlights from ESSC 2023

Public social services are facing a significant number of challenges in relation to increasing social demands and expectations. Digital and technology innovation are key in supporting public authorities to undertake large 

register

Conference Webinar Programme

ESN has joined with our Conference industry partners to organise a series of webinars to discuss different ways in which technology and digitalisation are transforming social services. Watch the previous discussions and register for upcoming webinars here.

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PODCAST

ESN joined Ana Millán Huerta, Head of Digital Transformation, Social Services Institute – Barcelona City Council and Geoff Mulgan, Professor at University College London to discuss the role of technology in advancing social services.  Listen the podcast  here.

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How to register

Register by 6 June to join us to discuss the latest innovations in social care policy and share your experiences in delivering support to vulnerable communities.

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CONFERENCE BURSARY PROGRAMME

Find out about support to participate through our conference bursary programme. 

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Join the Practice Fair

A dedicated conference session to enable registered organisations to present their projects and initiatives to all the conference delegates. Contact Francesco Capuani to find out how you can get involved.

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BECOME OUR PARTNER

Working on digitalisation and technology for social services? Supporting public authorities in their digitalisation journey? Have projects and/or solutions to improve the quality of social service delivery? If you answer Yes to any of these questions, we want to hear from you. Get in touch!

Supporting Decision-Making and System Transformation

Public social services are facing a significant number of challenges in relation to increasing social demands and expectations. Digital and technology innovation are key in supporting public authorities to undertake large transformation programmes leading to organisational change impacting administrations, professionals and people using social services.

Digital and Technology Innovation in Children and Young People’s Social Services

How has digitalisation impacted support for children and young people?  What are the main areas of focus for social services?

The European Social Services Conference 2023 strives towards being a fully equitable, inclusive, sustainable and accessible event. The planning of every aspect of the conference is made in line with the guidelines for an equitable event, as laid out by the City of Malmö which also adhere to Sweden’s discrimination law which, among other things, imposes certain requirements for accessibility and specifies protection based on a number of recognized characteristics and forms of discrimination. The core principle of these guidelines is that every person is equal in dignity and rights, and therefore every person should have equal opportunities to reach their human potential. Key considerations have been made to ensure the sustainability of ESSC 2023. These include choosing a venue that is a LEED-certified building, minimising waste, in particular food waste, and promoting the use of public transport where possible.

Navigating the Future of Social Services

The European Social Services Conference
Europe's Largest Policy & Practice Forum

The European Social Services Conference (ESSC) is the annual flagship event of the European Social Network (ESN), the leading network for public social services in Europe. The ESSC is the largest public social welfare policy and practice forum in Europe, attended by almost 700 delegates in Antwerp in 2024.

The ESSC 2025 will be the opportunity for decision-makers in public authorities, third sector organisations, social services professionals, providers of technology solutions, and researchers to share and exchange their knowledge and experiences with peers from across Europe and other regions of the world.

At the 33rd edition of the European Social Services Conference we will learn how relational welfare approaches on the one hand, and welfare technology on the other are major drivers of social services transformation to make them fit for the 21st century. The Conference will provide the platform to address how the combination of relational approaches and technology in social services creates a powerful synergy that enhances efficiency, accessibility, customisation, trust, and empathy.

Registration Now Open!

The 2025 European Social Services Conference will bring together leaders in social services to inspire ideas on integrating relationship building and technology in social services. 

Super Early Bird Rates Available

For those of you who like to register early, from 21 November to 31 December any registrations with their payment completed will receive a super early-bird discount of 10% on their registration fee.

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6 reasons to register

Discover here the top 6 reasons to register for the 2025 European Social Services Conference and be part of the transformative dialogue shaping the future of social welfare.

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How to register

Join us to exchange ideas and shape the future of social services. Share how you’re blending technology and human connection to drive meaningful change in care delivery.
 
 

Call for Contributions Now Closed!

Thank you to everyone who submitted proposals for this year’s European Social Services Conference!

The Advisory Committee is now reviewing submissions to select projects for the conference sessions. Successful applicants will be notified soon, and the final programme will be announced early 2025.

Learn more about the Advisory Committee and their work here.

Meet our Speakers

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We are delighted to announce our first ESSC 2025 speaker, Social Entrepreneur and Policy Advisor Hilary Cottom from the United Kingdom.

Hilary is the author of Radical Help (pub. 2018), a book which proposes a new model of welfare: systems and services that foster our capabilities and human connections.

At ESSC 2025, she will ask delegates to consider how we can solve the deep and complex social problems we face in this century, drawing on her new book on work and her relational practice in the public sector.

We encourage you to watch Hilary’s TED Talk from 2015, where she discusses her ideas about redesigning the welfare state using the power of relationships.

Conference Venues

                                                                         Proposals can also be made in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.


Take a look back at the best of our 2024 edition.

View the gallery here

Download the conference presentations here (for delegates only)

Discover the 2024 Programme here!

Read the conference report here!

Our 2024 partners

Become a Partner

If you are working on solutions that promote integration, digital developments and inclusive practice and wish to discuss how we can collaborate together, then please contact our Development Coordinator, Francesco Capuani, by email at francesco.capuani@esn-eu.org, or at the link below to discuss how you can get involved.

Register for updates

Subscribe here to receive conference updates directly to your inbox.

Download the European Social Network Events App