DC TYNNERED
www.tynnered.goteborg.se
The work of the district committee focuses on making Tynnered a good district in which to live and work. This means investing in prevention initiatives, pre-schools, schools and welfare, as well as ensuring that residents of the district feel safe and secure.
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| The first figure is for the district and the second for Göteborg in total during 2002, unless otherwise stated. | ||
| No. of inhabitants | 27,531 | (474,877) |
| Percentage of children 0–15 | 22.4 | (17.3) |
| Percentage of pensioners over 65 | 14.0 | (14.7) |
| Average income, KSEK (over 16) 2000 | 188.1 | (174.6) |
| Percentage of job applicants 18–64 | 2.9 | (4.1) |
| Percentage of people with higher education (20–64) 2001 | 33.6 | (38.9) |
| Percentage of gainfully employed (20–64) 2000 | 73.7 | (69.5) |
| Percentage on social security benefits | 8.3 | (9.5) |
| Social security benefits paid, SEK per inhabitant* | 1,470 | (2,128) |
| * Excl. introduction remuneration. | ||
Prevention work in Tynnered is aimed at all age groups, and ranges from collaboration between the district administration, maternity clinic and child welfare centre, to prevention initiatives to improve the health and safety of elderly people.
Citizens Service is the district’s local citizens’ office, and is one aspect of efforts to improve information and City services to citizens. The purpose of Citizens Service is to ensure that citizens get answers to their questions, to pass on citizens’ views and to act as a link for those citizens who want to get involved. Citizens Service has arranged a series of theme days in cooperation with other organizations in the area. The on-call solicitor was especially popular, and various theme days in collaboration with other authorities were also well attended.
Everyone who moves to Tynnered receives a welcome letter, which in addition to welcoming them to the district and giving general information, also includes environmental information in several languages.
The easiest way for citizens to pass on their views of district services is to do so direct to the provider of the service. But sometimes it is necessary to give citizens an additional channel of communication to the district administration and politicians. In 2003 Citizens Service will be at the centre of efforts to improve the handling of complaints, which will allow citizens to give their views of the district services, as well as the services provided by other authorities.
The meetings of the district committee are open to the public. In order to give citizens the chance to air their views on the issues to be discussed by the committee, or any other questions, the committee members invite the residents of Tynnered to open preliminary meetings on the Thursday before the district committee meeting. Citizens can also contact their politicians through the district’s website.
The Välen area is a fantastic countryside park in the district that is managed and developed by the local nature conservation association for the enjoyment of everyone. During 2002 there was increased collaboration between the association and the district administration. For example, residents can now arrange tours around the countryside park by contacting Citizens Service.
The social services office works with the maternity clinic, child welfare centre and open pre-schools by running various forms of group activities for single parents. This is one of the priority groups identified in Tynnered’s Public Health Plan, which is one of the cornerstones of prevention initiatives.
Under the “Mareld” project, Tynnered has developed methods and approaches for providing support to children and parents with mental health problems. One of the results is a handbook that is distributed to all staff who may come into contact with children in the priority group.
Tynnered is continuing to invest in open pre-schools. The district’s two open pre-schools are well attended thanks to their generous opening hours.
Children and young people need to be active and move about. Tynnered is collaborating with various associations to improve fitness and health in schools. The aim is to encourage associations to share their knowledge and provide opportunities to take part in activities that the schools cannot offer alone.
Tynnered provides an open advisory service for parents with children in the age group 0–12. The advisory service is easy to use and is mostly provided over the telephone. No details are recorded.
During 2002 the schools and pre-schools were organized into three areas. Together with individual & family care, the area groups have drawn up health plans for children and young people, one aspect of which is tobacco and drug prevention work. Individual & family care has been reorganized into the same geographical areas as schools and pre-schools. This has led to more efficient collaboration with the district administration and made it easier to help those children and young people who need support.
After-school activities in Tynnered are an important part of prevention work, and provide activities for children and young people aged between 10 and 20. The District Committee of Tynnered runs eight different after-school facilities, but the district also offers a wide variety of youth activities through associations and community groups. Tynnered also takes part in the after-school initiative for young people aged 16–20 that is run by the western districts. In addition to traditional after-school activities the district also offers summer camps at Rävholmen each year.
Youth teachers at Önneredsskolan offered older schoolchildren a few days work at the school during the summer. The results of the work done by the 20 pupils exceeded expectations. They met the demands that were made of them even though they were on holiday. They arrived on time in the mornings and helped to brighten up the school.
Preventive work for elderly residentsPreventive work has reduced demand for places in special housing, and more elderly people have been given the opportunity to continue living in their own homes. This contributes to a better quality of life for elderly residents.
Staff from the drop-in centres visit elderly people who require a small amount of home help. It is also desirable to seek out elderly residents who do not have any contact with the home help service. One of the aims is to encourage elderly people to be more active and thereby delay the need for support. Another is to improve the quality of life of elderly people and to keep them informed so that they feel more secure. The drop-in centres at Grevegården, Åkerhus home for the elderly and on Beryllgatan offer a range of activities that are designed to create opportunities for pensioners to meet. The work carried out by care of the elderly services focuses on the effects and importance of lifestyle and different activities on the health of elderly people. It has been shown that a well-developed strategy leads to improvements in people’s health and hence delays the need for home help and nursing care. The number of visits to the drop-in centres increased in 2002.
Bolleskär home for the elderly, which provided 12 places for elderly people, was closed in 2002. The residents moved to the newly built Kaverös Äng home in Högsbo. The building currently provides supported accommodation and service apartments for people with disabilities.
Voluntary work is carried out in Tynnered at Bjöla home for the elderly, Åkerhus drop-in centre and home for the elderly and in the home help service.
Being a volunteer involves giving voluntary assistance in the public sector. Volunteers generally give their time individually. Voluntary work of this type is not intended to replace the efforts of the community, but is regarded more as adding a little variety to the day. For those who live in a home for the elderly, this may mean that the volunteer helps to read a newspaper, goes for a walk with them, etc.
Efforts to create an attractive working environment for nurses have continued during the year and all nursing posts have been filled. At Toftaåsen nursing home and home for the elderly, the high level of sick leave and difficulties in recruiting nurses meant that a large number of agency staff and temporary staff were employed in 2001. The working approach was changed in 2002, making it easier to recruit nursing staff, and this organization now serves as a role model for the City.