Increasing transparency – creating structures

Starting position/challenge

The complexity of the recognition procedure in the health sector presents challenges both for administration and counselling practice. In order to provide practical and transparent solutions for those seeking counselling and to structurally optimise procedure, close collaboration is required between the IQ Regional Networks and the competent authorities. The Network IQ Thuringia responded to this requirement and entered into communication with the federal state government. The Thuringia citizens’ commissioner established an advisory committee to promote exchange between the recognition authorities and the IQ counsellors in order to critically scrutinise approaches and to jointly identify practical and transparent solutions for those seeking counselling. The advisory committee meets on a regular basis and is moderated by the Thuringian citizens’ commissioner. Here, representatives of the IQ Regional Networks develop practical and transparent solutions together with the authorities responsible for the health and social care occupations and the Thuringian federal state administration office. The “Recognition” advisory committee performs the function of an administrative office. It brings together experiences from the practical work of the Network IQ and from the administration, and formulates these into recommendations for optimising the procedure.

Implementation of the strategic approach

Approximately four advisory committee exchange meetings take place each year. Representatives from the Network IQ , the federal state administration office, the citizens’ commissioner and other stakeholders involved in the procedure participate in the meetings. Moderation of the exchange by an elected representative from regional politics enables an ongoing process of change to support the improvement and acceleration of the recognition procedure. As a result of the collaboration within the advisory committee, the management levels of the highest federal state authorities are informed regarding the requirements and challenges facing all stakeholders. The intensive nature of the cooperation with the citizens’ commissioner has resulted in rapid implementation of measures decided on in the advisory committee. Experiences from the IQ counselling centres, job training projects and service centres have a direct influence on the work of the advisory committee. In 2017, and with the aim of improving document checking, the advisory committee focussed primarily on making joint improvements to the relevant application forms and agreed on set documents which had to be submitted. These application forms now also contain clear information regarding the required documents. After submitting the form, applicants receive confirmation of receipt in which any missing documents are specified. The reorganisation of information on the website of the Thuringian federal state administration office is contributing to increased transparency.

Conclusion

Involvement of ministerial levels of management enabled the exchange needed and the rethinking of the administration to be achieved. The resulting process optimisation was implemented rapidly and in a practical manner and was simplified for the target group concerned.