STUDY ON THE WORKLOAD OF SOCIAL WORKERS: FOLLOW-UP STUDY
The overall objective of the study is to develop strategies and substantive proposals that contribute to reducing the administrative workload in public social welfare centres, while maintaining legal certainty, transparency and the quality of assistance.
The research is based on the preliminary findings of the ongoing BELSPO project, which shows how administrative burdens affect the time, motivation and professional scope of social workers, as well as accessibility, clarity and perceived fairness for clients.
In this follow-up study, the dual experience of administration — as a necessary form of organisation and as a source of pressure — is further investigated within the five forms of support: (1) living wage and equivalent living wage, (2) installation allowance, (3) financial support in the form of energy support, (4) GPMI and (5) urgent medical assistance.
The study aims to link empirical and analytical insights to practical proposals for simplification, which can inspire the federal government in the development of concrete pilot projects and reform processes in a subsequent phase.
The specific objectives are:
Analysis and in-depth study: systematically mapping the administrative chain within each of the five forms of support and linking it to the relevant analytical frameworks from the ongoing BELSPO research. For each process, for example, the functions performed by the administrative steps (such as legal protection, accountability, control or emancipation) and the type of pressure they exert on social workers and clients are examined. This analysis provides a substantiated overview of where the administrative burden lies and forms the basis for targeted policy considerations on possible simplifications or reforms.
Interpretation and explanation: identifying the main factors that lead to administrative burden or overload, and explaining why certain functions or types of pressure are more prevalent in some forms of support or OCMW contexts than in others. The results of this phase help the clients to distinguish where simplification is possible without compromising the necessary functions of administration.
Synthesis and typology: based on this analysis, develop a typology of improvement strategies that takes into account the nature of the administrative pressure and the levels at which it occurs (regulatory, organisational, executive).
esigning improvement strategies: translating the strategies developed into proposals for pilot projects, which the federal government can later adopt, refine and operationalise in collaboration with the relevant public social welfare centres, social workers and clients.
Policy translation: based on the research results, formulate recommendations that support the federal government and local authorities in achieving a better balance between legal certainty, humanity and workability for all actors involved.
