New project launched to enhance occupational safety and health in social services

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($ May, 2025) On 3 June EPSU and the 15 project partners from across Europe met to kick off the InGoodShape Project.

This 2 year EU-CoFunded project focuses on promoting occupational safety within the social services sector.

It aligns with the European Commission's European Care Strategy call for action to improve working conditions in the social services sector, presented in September 2022, and accompanied by Council recommendations on Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Long-Term Care (LTC).

Social services face major difficulties in recruiting and retaining enough workers – nearly all EU countries currently report staff shortages, and turnover rates are high – and growing demand continues to exacerbate the problems.

The InGoodShape project aims to create a more coherent framework for addressing long-term care workforce challenges.

It will support the European Care Strategy by researching and showcasing good practices related to the social services workforce.

It aims to enhance occupational safety and working conditions within the social services sector across Europe by addressing physical and mental health risks such as Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and Psychosocial Risks (PSRs), while also strengthening the capacity for social dialogue.

Key Objectives:

  • Improving Working Conditions: Addressing challenges such as heavy workloads, atypical working hours, and gender inequalities to enhance the quality of life at work. 
  • Enhancing Occupational Safety: Implementing measures to ensure the safety and well-being of social services workers.
  • Promoting Gender Equality: Developing strategies to address gender-related challenges in the care sector.
  • Strengthening Social Dialogue: Building capacities of social partners at both national and EU levels to engage in effective social dialogue. 
  • Increasing Sector Attractiveness: Developing tailored practices and strategies to make the social services sector more appealing to current and prospective workers. 

The objectives will be achieved through survey research, interviews and study visits to assess the current state of the sector and identify areas for improvement, followed by the development of strategies to enhance the attractiveness of the sector.

The outcomes and best practices identified will be shared through the reports, seminars and events to inform policy and practice across Europe.