Demand-driven working in an intercultural context
Client’s request
The Cordaan Foundation is an institution in Amsterdam and district that provides services to people with mental handicaps, former called Stichting IJlanden, and provides care and services to the elderly and chronically ill, former called Verenigde Amstelhuizen.
The branch of Cordaan for the mentally handicapped serves 1,200 clients at 50 locations in Amsterdam and Diemen. Van de Bunt supervised the Stichting IJlanden in formulating a vision of a demand-driven way of working, especially when it involves clients with different cultural backgrounds. This vision serves as a basis for internal organisational development. The ultimate objective is that IJlanden can offer diversity in its client and staff policy.
Our Approach
The vision document emerged on the basis of individual interviews and group discussions with the Board of Directors, managers and employees from various positions, as well as from various regions and company divisions. Together with members of the Staff Council and employees of fellow care providers, a meeting was organised for client representatives of both IJlanden and the client’s organisation in Amsterdam, to test the basic principles of the vision.
In the vision project for demand-driven approach and interculturalisation, Van de Bunt has provided specialist knowledge and experience in the field of:
- organisation change processes;
- demand-driven working in the healthcare and welfare sector;
- diversity and interculturalisation;
- strategic policy consultancy.
Result
A vision document on a demand-driven way of working and interculturalisation was created that was established as leading document by the Board of Directors. An important conclusion from the vision document is that interculturalisation can no longer be regarded as an 'interesting project' and that the institution can no longer permit itself not to respond structurally to the needs of immigrant target groups. In addition, an action plan was written in which the vision was translated into specific action points in order to interculturalise the institution. Then a project team was assembled that now controls the implementation of the vision and action plan.
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