Ad-PHS project’s workshop in the Netherlands

On December 12, 2019, the Ad-PHS project partners hosted a workshop in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This Workshop was attended by Aude Boisseuil (EFFE), Grace Papa (EFFAT), Benedetta Baldini (EFSI), Nico Daenens (Dienstenaanhuis), Mathieu Raafenberg and Jolanda van der Staaij (Care 2 Get There), and Renaud Scheuer (EASPD).

Dienstenaanhuis is a Belgian organization, established in 2004 and employing over 2800 workers, mainly in Flanders and in the Walloon Brabant. Dienstenaanhuis focuses on cleaning, house care, gardening, and handiwork. The organization counts the VDAB (the Flemish public employment service) as a major partner and works through vouchers (titres services). Their presence in Rotterdam enabled the partners to explore the distinction between the Belgian and the Dutch systems.

Care 2 Get There (C2GT) is a Dutch foundation, established in 2014 and employing over 40 workers in the Netherlands. C2GT focuses on long-term care, social care, and forensic care through its Movement, Development, and Education (BOE) approach. The organization works as partner or contractor with various municipalities, witht the Zorgkantor Zilveren Kruis Achmea, or with the Justitie voor Forensische Zorg (FOZO), as well as through the personal budget (Persoonsgebonden budget – PGB).

The objectives of the workshop were to introduce the Ad-PHS project, to connect various PHS stakeholders, to review the current state of PHS in the Netherlands, as well as to explore the intricacies of the Dutch system.

Regarding the later point, the roundtable conversations shed light on the distinction between the care and cure services, based on the duration and repetition of the services (the former refers to long-term services and the latter to ad-hoc assistance). Overall, the main conclusion from the discussions was the consensus on the fragmentation of the Dutch system, both from a legal and institutional point of view, as well as in terms of geography, as many services are decentralized to the municipal level. In turn, this complicates the harmonization of practices or profiles and the mobilization of PHS actors and stakeholders. The participants concluded by stressing the importance of such efforts, notably through the Ad-PHS European Conference and Platform.