Not every citizen is self-reliant

That concludes a team of social scientists at the University of Humanistic Studies (UvH) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA). They examine the effects of the decentralization of care responsibilities to municipalities four years - until 2018 - in six municipalities, including Rotterdam, Leeuwarden and Sittard-Geleen.

So they lived some 250 interviews with residents in, of "kitchen table talks" for an agreement with local neighborhood teams. Wednesday they presented their preliminary findings. "The belief in the power of citizens is strong," said one of the researchers, sociologist and lecturer at the UvH Thomas Kampen.

Anyway help district teams still people, whether they reflect purely the responsibility to them?

"It is striking: that strong belief in self-reliance is common in neighborhood teams, but that does not always translate into practice. District team staff - social workers, debt counselors, health care providers - just show regularly caring. But what is even more striking if we as researchers professionals since then inquiring about it, they put it provide care yet as promoting self-reliance.

As if they have no words for that care. So apparently it became dominant ideal of the self-reliant citizens. That's the rescuers not to blame. It says something about policymakers and politicians, those that self-reliance made it a mantra. "

Can you give an example?
"An assistant district team comes along with a resident, and concludes that a subsidiary body should be approached. What is happening? That employee picks up the phone and calling itself the authority on behalf of the resident on. Taking this work so on. When asked which says employee then yes, I put things in motion so that the residents will soon zeldredzaam.

Another example. Someone from a district team helps a resident in order to receive from the administration. Then the intention obviously that somebody learns to keep these records. In fact - I was there at - such employee does itself that administration. The resident sits alongside and does nothing. That is not promoting self-sufficiency, which is simply to help. "

Aldermen defend too often say their policies: "We prefer to look at what people are indeed able then to where they can not!"
"Yes, that optimism has come to dominate. "Everyone has a talent, local officials also say, and:

"The focus is on people, not the problem." The point is: by hitting the emphasis on the positive story problems and negative emotions underexposed residents.

You can see that literally happen in that kitchen table conversations, as a consultant to map the request for help from a resident on behalf of the municipality. Example: consultant visits elderly mother in front of her children, who work full time and still provide care.

I want my children are not a burden, says the mother against the consultant. The children say prompt: Mom, we experienced which care not as a burden. What does the consultant: giving the children a compliment for their involvement. The mother's experience under snow. "

Do kitchen consultants and district teams often rely on the network of needy?

"They try to enable network yes. But many vulnerable people do not have large network. One lives in a nearby building or other vulnerable people. Family lives far away.

And rely on friends people do not like: then will be placed on the equivalence of the contact pressure. If there is no network, such consultant or assistant district team put really not stubbornly.

But the mere fact that a resident stresses individual responsibility, creates an embarrassing situation. Remember: people often have a threshold before anyway the congregation for help.

For example, they have a caregiver, and then remain there are tasks in the household. Regularly one approaches the town with some shame. And then someone comes along on behalf of the municipality, and then asks for citizens and overburdened carers what they can themselves. This is painful because such resident then think: I do not meet expectations. "

How can we do better?
"I think it appeals to self-sufficiency for a large group of people is quite real. But there are also people for whom it does not apply.

They deserve better guidance. The customer support should be better regulated. So with such a kitchen table conversation not just one caregiver regaled already working overtime in that house.

The customer support staff can assist the resident prior to such a call, there are people around you that you do not help now but it could do? And the sponsor can also help citizens formulate their request for help.

Now threatens a difference in aid between mature and non-mature citizens: there are people who know exactly what they have to say to such a district team assistant. My concern is for people who are just awkward outlets or which arise from shame or self-reliant habit than they are. A client facilitator can help to look through it. "

By Editorial NRC Photo: ANP Roos Koole