EASI - EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL C O U N T RY

Italy
INNOVATION PROGRAMME
INNOVATIVE SERVICES FOR POLICY AREAS
FRAGILE PEOPLE IN ROME Fight against poverty and social exclusion
Guarantee adequate and decent social
(INSPIRE) protection

I N N OVAT I V E H I G H L I G H T S TA R G E T G R O U P S
• Response to the needs of fragile citizens through National, regional and local authorities
integrated care and neighbourhood networks Employment services
• Capitalisation of unutilised and confiscated urban Social partners
facilities NGOs
Higher education and research institutions
S C A L E A N D T Y P E O F S O C I A L I N N O VAT I O N Experts in evaluation and impact
• Radical and Organisational Innovation assessment
Media
CALL NAME Others
Social Policy Innovations supporting reforms
in Social Services C O O R D I N AT O R
Department for Social Policies, Subsidiarity
and Health of Roma Capitale

EU CONTRIBUTION
€ 1,644,819.97 (78.97% of the total costs)

T OTA L C O S T S
€ 2,082,819.97

D U R AT I O N
September 2015 - December 2017

Social Europe
OF THE ACTION The INSPIRE project was aimed at facilitating tailored assistance for social services in Rome
through integrated care, valuing the resources of beneficiaries and their proximity networks. The
project first studied innovative services to be adapted; and used and mapped urban facilities to
be activated for better provision of social services. New services with a collective dimension
were tested engaging citizens in the programming of the social services. A counter-factual
SUMMARY

evaluation and independent efficiency assessment were used to evaluate and measure the impact
of the proposed model on the improvement of social care for fragile people in Rome. In addition,
an information system was also implemented to support the management of proximity
networks and the responses offered to the citizens. The evaluation results show a significant
improvement after the intervention in the various dimensions of the assessment.

Keywords: private-public partnership, integrated system, proximity

networks, participation in programming, tailored care, information
system, urban rehabilitation

CONTEXT AND NEEDS

The INSPIRE project was implemented by the Department for Social Policies, Subsidiarity and Health
of Roma Capitale, in collaboration with both public and private research and consulting organisations
together with third sector organisations operating in the field of social services. The experimentation
was structured around a welfare sharing model to design and provide care services, based on
integrated care, customisation, collective intervention and enhancement of the beneficiaries’
resources and proximity networks. It was built on the assumption that the services offered in the
context of fragility, especially home care services, were not effective in meeting the diverse needs of
vulnerable citizens and that a single and unified system of tools shared between the city and
its different municipalities was needed. The project was also aligned with the reform of the third
sector launched in the country.

The main need to be answered was to improve the level

of autonomy of the beneficiaries of social services and to
reduce the waiting lists for home care services.”

OBJECTIVES
01
• Create an integrated system of services to meet the
02
• Strengthen public-private partnerships.
needs of fragile people by relying on the beneficiaries’
resources and proximity networks.
 D
INTEGRATED NEEDS
CARE

COMMUNITY
CUSTOMIZA-
INTERVENTION
TION

MAPPING
INSPIRE INNOVATIVE
SERVICES

METHODOLOGY
BENEFICIARY PROXIMITY
RESOURCES NETWORKS
SOCIAL
ABANDONED
ENTREPRE- OR
NEURSHIP APREHENDED
SPACES

The project team initially identified the weaknesses of the social services in Rome and mapped
those capable of being used in favour of social assistance to the fragile inhabitants. New services
were tested through the creation of neighbourhood networks for the participation of citizens in the
programming of social services. An information system was also established to support experimental
services and the management and enhancement of proximity networks. A counterfactual evaluation
was carried out to verify the gains and impacts on several dimensions such as the relatives’ burden,
improvements on the health status, personal autonomy and social well-being.
RESULTS

A significant improvement after the intervention was observed in all dimensions of the assessment. For
instance, the number of relatives not renouncing personal hobbies for care reasons increased up to 12%
after the intervention and the health condition of the experimental group increased up to 7%.

Results also show that by shifting 10% of the hours given by traditional services to the INSPIRE project
services, it was possible to achieve cost savings of 5.7% for disabled people assistance services
and 9.3% for older people care services. There was also a reduction in the costs of collective
services and in the waiting lists for social services.

All the services tested with

It generated a growing awareness of the the Inspire project have been
need to reconsider the organisational included in the Citizen Social
model of personal services, placing social Plan.”
rights, individual autonomy and well-being
at the centre.”

Policymakers were involved in all

phases:
from the start until the end.” ​© [Department for Social Policies,
Subsidiarity and Health of Roma Capitale],
2014
 INNOVATIVE
CONTENT
By mapping and analysing existing innovative practices, the project team designed a model adapted
to the city of Rome, establishing a one-stop-shop of new collective services (such as socio-
occupational laboratories, tutoring and solidarity commonholds) structured around neighbourhood
networks and tailored to a wide variety of citizens’ needs. INSPIRE was also innovative in its attempts
to capitalise on the unutilised urban facilities to secure services of proximity.

TRANSFERABILITY
AND UPSCALING
The INSPIRE project has successfully proceeded from mainstreaming to embedding. At the policy level, the system
tested is currently included in the Social Plan of Rome and in the latest municipal plans on the provision of
social services. The information system developed is also used in several municipalities within Rome, in order
to support proximity networks and school communities. The project team is continuously looking for new upscaling
alternatives and working on further mainstreaming.

PROJECT CANVA
© Luis Silva / https://cargocollective.com/luissilva

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