Municipalities take over a large part of the care for vulnerable people from the national government. To this end, they form neighbourhood teams with professionals who support vulnerable people in all areas of life. A large municipality has been experimenting with a new approach: creating teams of people working in the neighbourhoods, based on the needs in the neighbourhood. The linchpin of such a neighbourhood team is the neighbourhood coach. The coach identifies which families need help and guides the families themselves or uses help from others.
Trailblazing
‘Turn the idea into an experiment’, is my assignment. I make a project plan, set up a project organization and ensure support. I organize the collaboration with the parties involved. In order to keep the process fast, I do not request a budget, but ask each party for their own contribution in manpower and resources. The parties involved have a great need to experiment with the new method. And thus grows the first neighborhood team more or less organically. A major task is to convert the us-them thinking into fruitful collaboration: breaking down barriers.
Result
Within six months, the first neighbourhood team is operational. Collaboration partners include youth and disabled care, housing corporations, municipal institutions and the energy supplier. The new team ensures better help for families with (threatening) problems in the neighbourhood and in an earlier stage.