Literature review and identification of best practices on integrated social service delivery : part II : country case studies

This study investigates the literature and practice of integrated social service delivery (onestop- shops), reviews the evolution of the main approaches to integration and identifies best practices in Europe. The importance of the topic is highlighted by the European Commission's Social Investment Package (SIP), which calls for Member States to adapt their social models to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Beside stabilising the economy and strengthening social investments, this would also require the improvement of access to social services, especially for disadvantaged groups. The integration of social services has emerged as a possible response to this challenge: it may contribute to improving access and take-up or coping with new types of social risks, as well as to meeting the growing need for prevention and coordination between increasingly complex services.