Description of organisation

The iSocial Foundation promotes innovation in the social services sector, with the aim of improving support for the most vulnerable people, and moving towards a more just, equitable and inclusive society. It was created in Barcelona in 2018 by eight NGOs in the social sector, and has the collaboration of people, organizations and companies from various fields: social, technological, educational, health, housing, communication, etc. iSocial acts as a bridge between the world of knowledge and the world of social action, connecting universities, local authorities, entities and companies in the sector. ISocial’s methodology is based on co-creation, participation and engagement, with the involvement of all actors in social action: users, professionals, decision makers, regulators and service providers.
The innovation that iSocial promotes prioritizes the following four objectives: 1/ The transformation of care models: The right to choose, personalisation, link to the community, preventive intervention, technological support, self-management and empowerment and a global vision and action with regard to all the areas related to the individual; 2/ Systemic changes in social services: Inclusive cities, totally accessible environments, relational governance, proximity care, deinstitutionalisation, community-based support, independent life systems, integrated service care. 3/ Challenges in professional action of social workers: Experts in rights, support coordinators, decision-making companions. 4/ Instrumental improvements in the social system: Management tools, information systems, Big Data, evidence-based action, prediction and prevention, solutions for self-management, sensorisation, robotics and support systems.
iSocial activities are organized around three axes: A/ iSocial Research: We do research and generate knowledge to identify challenges, trends, solutions and innovation opportunities in the social services sector. B/ iSocial Campus: We share and disseminate knowledge on innovation in social action, among the professionals of the different agents of the Social Services system, mainly city councils and third sector. C/ iSocial Lab: We promote, develop, or participate in innovative projects that implement the solutions identified for the transformation and improvement of the social services sector.
Some examples of our activities are: training courses for local teams of social service professionals; conferences and webinars; advice to local councils in the process of transforming local social services; bank of innovations in social services; living lab; innovative projects; research projects; awards on technology applied to social action.
iSocial works with partners from different parts of Spain and is a member of the European Social Network (ESN).