Transforming Institutions: Changing mandates, care standards and financial arrangements Ms. Vesna Bosnjak, Senior Expert, ISS International Social Services

The Themes Present mandates/ Legacy of the past Could all institutions transform? How should the transformation be legitimized? Mandate and internal regulations of a transformed institution

Present mandates/ Legacy of the past Mandates based on deficiency/ medical criteria and unchangeable Clients segregated by risk and/or age Quality assurance through standardisation of staff qualifications and environmental conditions Earmarked funds from stable budgetary sources stimulating institutional placements

Could all institutions transform? Location, quality of infrastructure, staff competencies and profiles of children indicate potential/ reasons for transformation, upgrading or closure Location and quality of infrastructure determine capacity to attract qualified personnel, as well as potentials for shifting mandates towards community based care

Could all institutions transform? Closure should not be a quick-fix solution, quick closure is often harmful to some or most of the children Are institutions less likely to transform if transferred to municipalities?

How should the transformation be legitimized? Temporary mandates allowing for management and program changes (including partial de-regulation of previously defined mandates) Ad-hoc regulatory framework with inclusion of new stakeholders, planned targets and availability of funding for transition costs (retraining, development, and/or severance payments to staff)

Mandate and internal regulations of a transformed Institution Mandates established as complexes of two or more services stipulated by law (or decided upon by relevant authorities) and needed in the local/regional environment Admission criteria, job descriptions, procedures and service outcomes adjusted to new mandate Multiplicity of financial sources and modalities of payments according to type of services provided