Valakampiai Social Services Home is implementing EQUASS (the European Quality in Social Services system) and actively reviews all areas of its activities, improves them and prepares new documents.
While preparing the Description of Partnership Development and Partnership Benefit Assessment, we discussed and concluded that the following principles are important to us when partnering with various for-profit, non-profit and public sector organisations:
Purposefulness: partnerships are developed in order to better and more comprehensively meet and fulfil the needs of residents.
Innovation: partnership participants share their accumulated knowledge and experience, helping one another to improve their activities and implement innovations.
Mutual responsibility: the functions and responsibilities of partnership participants are defined.
Social inclusion: partnerships create opportunities for residents to participate in community life.
Effectiveness: periodic assessments of partnership benefits and outcomes help identify the most suitable partners for the further development of cooperation.
When reviewing the benefits provided by our partners, we found that they offer us extensive and highly diverse support: donations of food, clothing, footwear and other items, free educational activities, free cultural events, free events (cinema, concerts, performances, etc.), free meals, project activities, day social care, free publications, additional human resources, free consultations (on legal and employment matters), free beauty services, free wellness services, free health check-ups, free emotional / psychological support for residents, and free training / consultations for employees.
I asked the organisation’s residents and employees about the benefits of partnerships in order to hear their personal opinions:
Resident Benediktas: “I attend the ‘Mes esame’ day centre, where I receive day activity
services. During the day, while working with a sewing machine, I learned to sew and work with leather. I also had the opportunity to volunteer several times at ‘Kavos galia’, where I learned how to pour coffee, measure portions and distinguish between different types of coffee.”
Resident Laura: “I really liked it at the Palace of the Grand Dukes, especially the views and reflections. I liked that there was always a bench nearby where you could sit down and rest.”
Social worker Aurika: “Several shipments of ECCO shoes have already been sent to us. The residents enjoy wearing this footwear. It is very comfortable even for residents who have orthopaedic problems. The professionals from ‘Šukuosenų studija’ visited us several times and gave residents very beautiful and stylish haircuts, encouraging them to take greater care of their appearance and beauty. This brought them a great deal of joy and self-confidence. The professionals introduced them to the latest hairstyle trends. Our residents also want to look beautiful and fashionable. On one occasion, the professionals from ‘Šukuosenų studija’ invited us to visit their salon.”
Three residents of our organisation – Aleksandra, Jonas and Justinas – participate in the project “Get to Know Your Country”, organised by the Vilnius City Children and Youth Residential Care Home. During the project, residents have the opportunity to learn about Lithuanian history, the culture, authenticity, traditions and uniqueness of Lithuania’s regions. They particularly enjoyed learning Lithuanian folk dances and songs from different regions and travelling to other cities with a prepared programme, which they proudly and gladly presented. During these trips, the project participants had the opportunity to make new connections, find new friends, and see how others live and what activities they take part in.”
Social worker Normantas: “Partnership is a whirlwind of services that fills our day with various sensations, new experiences and opportunities to maintain skills. Our department (the Short-Term Care Centre) has a long list of partners with whom we communicate and coordinate activities and other interesting opportunities for residents throughout the year. Without our partners, residents would not have enough activities or opportunities to stay engaged. Our main partners are day centres that provide daytime activity services. We are constantly coordinating and communicating with them about the residents’ well-being and emotional state. It is always reassuring to know that you have partners and can provide residents with new experiences while carrying out activities.”
Senior General Practice Nurse Edita: “We smile and enjoy each other’s company while participating in canine-assisted therapy and hippotherapy sessions. Our partners provide us with an excellent wellness service free of charge – physiotherapy, which uses movement and physical activity as a form of treatment. Free eye examinations help us see and appreciate the wonders of life more clearly. Our partners also help residents build self-confidence by providing free dental care services at their homes. The organisation’s healthcare professionals are also grateful to our partners for providing free training. I enjoy communicating with our partners because achieving the goal of ‘Good Health’ is only possible through communication and cooperation.”
Head of Department Neringa Žalėnė: “We assess the benefits of partnerships for our residents and employees through additional work tools, acquired resources and new opportunities. Among the most recent partner initiatives, I particularly remember the individual consultations provided by the NGO Mental Health Perspectives to our organisation’s specialists, applying advanced methods focused on each person’s individual needs. Training provided by specialists from the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson broadened our employees’ perspectives and knowledge of equal opportunities. We greatly value our cooperation with the Naujoji Vilnia Culture Centre, which, in addition to invitations to cultural events, provides one of our residents with the opportunity to participate in after-school activities at a children’s day centre. The benefits of short-term partnerships are equally valued. One of the most meaningful recent partnerships has been with the voluntary mentoring programme ‘Big Brothers Big Sisters’, implemented by the NGO Children Support Centre, in which one of our residents willingly participated. I have noticed that as my professional experience grows, I make new contacts and develop skills in finding partners and taking advantage of new opportunities as they arise.”
Resident Anželika: “We can always ask Marina (the community police officer) anything we need. For example, when the neighbours are making too much noise, I can call her at the police station and ask her to come and sort things out. We are happy that she comes to visit us herself, asks how we are doing and what problems we have, and advises us on how to handle situations better and avoid conflicts.”
Residents Edgar and Ernest: “We like it when Brigita, Rimvydė and Donatas from Caritas come to our home and we all sit down with the social workers to talk about us. We talk about ourselves, our problems, our dreams and basketball. And when the social workers from our home go to Caritas, we like that very much too.”
We sincerely thank all our partners and wish them every success!
Deputy Director for Social Affairs
Virginija Paulauskytė
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