Social space-oriented integration assistance - adults

Manageable social spaces are more helpful for creating interactional encounters and support arrangements than anonymous, large and unmanageable social spaces (Röh/Meins 2021). The often limited mobility of recipients of integration assistance must be taken into account when classifying social spaces.

In order to also take into account the heterogeneity of the individual areas and to think on a small scale, this results in a division into five social areas. The resulting spatial proximity facilitates access to public services, for example. Another advantage is that comprehensive data evaluations are still possible (GdB case files are address-specific and unambiguous; evaluation by the Jobcenter jenarbeit is also detailed). This classification is also already used within the administration for planning purposes (daycare needs planning).

When dividing Jena into social areas, it seems sensible to link the localities to the "nearest" planning area. This allows for small-scale thinking while still considering the localities individually.

This division also enables

• the use of district development concepts.
• The small-scale approach offers more individuality.
• The social space can be better (individually) explored and used.

Possible participation centers are therefore easier to reach. Possible social space conferences are also easier to carry out.

All concepts submitted so far by service providers for socio-spatial work consider all planning areas and can therefore be easily applied to this division. Despite the large area and strong (structural) development potential, there are currently fewer open integration assistance services in North. It is particularly important to develop this social area in order to enable low-threshold support. The disadvantage of this classification is that the localities are still somewhat neglected in the analysis. However, it should be noted that a different social structure generally prevails there than in urban districts and that increased mobility is expected of all residents.

For the social services department, social space orientation means more than just reducing the focus to local responsibilities. It is a holistic strategy that aims to improve the living conditions of people in a neighborhood. It builds on the strengths of the neighborhoods and the people.

For integration assistance, this means going beyond conventional individual assistance and involving the surrounding area to a greater extent. The city of Jena and the participants in the social space orientation working group (service providers, administrative staff and a person affected) therefore want to develop and test new ways of working together and financing integration assistance in a jointly organized process.

The idea of working together to develop a new collaboration that incorporates the resources of the individual and the social space was presented at a meeting of the community psychiatric network at the end of 2022. Participation in the working group was made optional. This working group has been meeting monthly since January 2023.

The aim of the working group is to create a jointly supported BTHG concept for the city of Jena through a common mission statement and jointly developed professional standards in (collaborative) work and social space profiles.

To this end, the joint guiding principles were developed in the first meetings and Jena was divided into social spaces.

The members of the working group are

• Service providers
  • Aktion Wandlungswelten e. V.
  • Diakonie Ostthüringen gem. GmbH
  • EDA - A roof for all
  • Help for self-help e. V.
  • Saale-Betreuungswerk der Lebenshilfe Jena gemeinnützige GmbH
  • Dr. Georg Haar Foundation
• Employees of the administration
  • Health department
  • Social Services
  • Integrated Social Planning Team
  • jenarbeit - Jobcenter of the City of Jena
• one beneficiary.

The Advisory Board for People with Disabilities and the Community Psychiatric Association regularly receive reports on the current status of work.

Guiding principles

The term "social space orientation" refers to the orientation of services to a socio-geographically limited area. This can be a district, a neighborhood or a region. However, the term also encompasses the orientation towards a socially constructed space, i.e. a specific living space or a social microcosm that places the residents in relation to their environment. In the field of integration assistance in Jena, we are therefore guided by the views of Wolfgang Hinte when developingthe specialist concept of social spaceorientation .According to this, the social space is not to be seen narrowly as "the spatial", but rather , with the active participation of the people concerned, it is important to shape living environments and create arrangements that help people to cope even in difficult life situations.

Five principles are crucial here:

1. The focus is always on the interests and will of the people entitled to benefits.
2. We avoid support and focus on activation.
3. In a socio-spatial concept, we consistently look at the resources of both individuals and neighborhoods.
4. Socio-spatial work must be designed across target groups and areas.
5. Networking and coordination of the numerous social services are the basis for effective individual assistance.

By systematically working with the potential of those entitled to benefits and taking into account the living environment, the will and interests of the people are consistently taken into account. The person's natural, cultural, structural and social environment is included in the person-centered support in the sense of self-determined and equal participation in social and community processes.

Therefore, existing resources, such as self-help groups, open meeting places, etc., as well as spatial sources of help, such as clubs, flea markets, etc., must be developed and used.

In summary, the following guiding principles were defined in the working group:

• There is a consistent focus on people's interests and will, so that everyone can develop their personal potential.
• The aim is to experience the social space as a place of participation and make it tangible.
• Social space orientation takes precedence over target group orientation.
• Social spaces should be designed in a participatory way so that they are attractive to all citizens.
• Person-centeredness is a primary principle.
• Working in social spaces means opening up networks and using resources from the social environment.
• Social space orientation is to be understood as a joint learning, innovation and development process.
• All people shape the social space.
• Transparent services and cooperation and networking of services are important.
• The dynamic resources of the social space are the driving force for participation.
• One person can and should be able to use many social spaces.
• Social spaces are also conceived spatially.
• A living space is not automatically a social space.