Co-ops and Social Care Why and what are the opportunities for co- operative change?

Social Care – so what’s the problem? a story…

Presentation themes What’s changing? What’s changing? What’s the nature of social care? What’s the nature of social care? Form & Function Form & Function Implications for social service delivery Implications for social service delivery

Social Care – so what’s the problem? Changing role of the state Changing role of the state Changing nature of people’s expectations Changing nature of people’s expectations Changing nature of our society Changing nature of our society Changing nature of our view of government Changing nature of our view of government

Reciprocity and The Decent Society From Welfare State to Decent Society From Welfare State to Decent Society The role of reciprocity The role of reciprocity The role of democracy The role of democracy Renewing social care Renewing social care

Social Co-ops & Social Care The emergence of social co-ops raises key questions about the nature of social care, the role of the state, the private market, & civil society. The emergence of social co-ops raises key questions about the nature of social care, the role of the state, the private market, & civil society. From a social & economics perspective, social care revolves around the notion of “relational goods” and the types of organizations that are best suited to provide such goods. From a social & economics perspective, social care revolves around the notion of “relational goods” and the types of organizations that are best suited to provide such goods.

Relational goods Relational goods are are those goods such as care giving, which are services to persons and which are characterized by the exchange of human relations. Relational goods are are those goods such as care giving, which are services to persons and which are characterized by the exchange of human relations. In relational goods the quality of the personal relationship is at the core of what is exchanged between the provider and the recipient and can be optimally produced only by the provider and the recipient together. In relational goods the quality of the personal relationship is at the core of what is exchanged between the provider and the recipient and can be optimally produced only by the provider and the recipient together.

Social co-ops are uniquely suited to the provision of social care because they can transform people from being merely the passive recipients of care, to being protagonists in the design and delivery of their care. Social co-ops are uniquely suited to the provision of social care because they can transform people from being merely the passive recipients of care, to being protagonists in the design and delivery of their care.

Reciprocity is the basis of the model. Reciprocity is the basis of the model. Democratic control is how it’s implemented. Democratic control is how it’s implemented. Social co-ops are social enterprises with a democratic structure. Social co-ops are social enterprises with a democratic structure. Social co-ops are a classic example of how the co-op form was adapted by everyday people to meet basic social needs and to respond to a market failure. Social co-ops are a classic example of how the co-op form was adapted by everyday people to meet basic social needs and to respond to a market failure.

History Social co-ops were a response to the demand for new, and better, social services Social co-ops were a response to the demand for new, and better, social services Grew against a backdrop of an authoritarian, bureaucratic and inefficient state, and a freeze on public sector hiring. Grew against a backdrop of an authoritarian, bureaucratic and inefficient state, and a freeze on public sector hiring. In the UK, as elsewhere, changes in the role of government vis a vis public services, citizen dissatisfaction in quality of care & cutbacks in funding have led to a rising interest in co-op models of service delivery. In the UK, as elsewhere, changes in the role of government vis a vis public services, citizen dissatisfaction in quality of care & cutbacks in funding have led to a rising interest in co-op models of service delivery.

Size of social co-op sector 7,000 social co-ops in Italy employ 280,000 employees of which 30,000 are disadvantaged workers. 7,000 social co-ops in Italy employ 280,000 employees of which 30,000 are disadvantaged workers. 23% of paid labour in non-profits; 2% of non-profits 23% of paid labour in non-profits; 2% of non-profits In Bologna, 87% of social services provided by social co-ops. In Bologna, 87% of social services provided by social co-ops. Quebec: 6,000 jobs, 81,000 members, 6 million hours of homecare by 101 social enterprises, 41 are social co-ops Quebec: 6,000 jobs, 81,000 members, 6 million hours of homecare by 101 social enterprises, 41 are social co-ops

Legislation The purpose of a social co-operative is to “pursue the general interest of the community in the human promotion and social integration of citizens”. The purpose of a social co-operative is to “pursue the general interest of the community in the human promotion and social integration of citizens”. Legislation stipulates that social co-ops have a special mandate to provide for the integration of disadvantaged persons into society. Legislation stipulates that social co-ops have a special mandate to provide for the integration of disadvantaged persons into society. Legislation refers to commonality of interest between social co-ops and local authorities for the provision of public goods. Legislation refers to commonality of interest between social co-ops and local authorities for the provision of public goods.

Disadvantaged persons are identified as consisting of the following groups: physically or mentally disabled; ex patients of psychiatric institutes; ex inmates; drug addicts; alcoholics; homeless, minors at risk.

Multi-stakeholder Co-ops A new model which makes possible the collaboration of different stakeholder groups to co-produce the service being provided. A new model which makes possible the collaboration of different stakeholder groups to co-produce the service being provided. Typically include: users, workers/carers, community stakeholders Typically include: users, workers/carers, community stakeholders Benefits: Benefits: Eliminate information inequalitiesEliminate information inequalities Allow for blended fundingAllow for blended funding Give all key stakeholders control rightsGive all key stakeholders control rights Promote innovation & problem solvingPromote innovation & problem solving Allow for volunteer contributionAllow for volunteer contribution

Social care services provided by social co-ops are not seen as a replacement of public services; they are seen as a complement to public services. Social care services provided by social co-ops are not seen as a replacement of public services; they are seen as a complement to public services. Social co-ops receive public funding & employer benefits for the services they provide. Social co-ops receive public funding & employer benefits for the services they provide.

CoPaps

Diffusing Reciprocity Transformation of institutional culture Transformation of institutional culture At both regional and national levels, social co-op federations negotiate directly with governments and municipalities on At both regional and national levels, social co-op federations negotiate directly with governments and municipalities on Funding levelsFunding levels Quality standardsQuality standards Evaluation of servicesEvaluation of services Regulatory systemsRegulatory systems State oversightState oversight

The future role of social co-ops is seen not only as a source of social care, but also as a means to hold government accountable for the provision of public services. The future role of social co-ops is seen not only as a source of social care, but also as a means to hold government accountable for the provision of public services.

Co-op models can help address the following issues: Co-op models can help address the following issues: A means of mobilizing civil society around issues of social careA means of mobilizing civil society around issues of social care An alternative to state delivery on the one hand, and privatization on the otherAn alternative to state delivery on the one hand, and privatization on the other A model for democratizing careA model for democratizing care A model for containing costs while improving the quality and responsiveness of social careA model for containing costs while improving the quality and responsiveness of social care A means for building a decent society through reciprocityA means for building a decent society through reciprocity

What’s needed? A coherent alternative vision of social care A coherent alternative vision of social care A political & social alliance to advocate for this vision A political & social alliance to advocate for this vision A new social contract among service providers and between the social economy and the state A new social contract among service providers and between the social economy and the state Deliberate government investment in the model Deliberate government investment in the model Specific policy identifying the role of social co-ops as a distinct service delivery form with a distinct functionSpecific policy identifying the role of social co-ops as a distinct service delivery form with a distinct function

What’s needed? State support for the model on the basis that it meets important social policy objectives. This means employer supports, employer supports, promotion of contracting & partnerships by local authorities, promotion of contracting & partnerships by local authorities, funding for co-op development, funding for co-op development, funding for the creation of user mediating organizations funding for the creation of user mediating organizations

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