4ST Playbook I National Council of Social Service

4ST: Roadmap for the Social Service Sector 2022-2026

Playbook

Every stakeholder in the ecosystem has a role to play to lead the desired changes to bring our sector forward.

The 4ST Playbook lists the concrete steps, as well as examples and ideas that different stakeholders can explore to bring the refreshed 4ST forward.

Underlying these actions, it is important for us to cultivate the right mindsets, and be prepared to continuously learn, unlearn, and reposition ourselves to operate within changes and new possibilities. This includes making better use of data and technology, and planning for the longer-term. Leaders too play a crucial role in guiding their organisations through such initiatives by exemplifying these behaviours and shaping organisational culture. The Playbook content is not meant to be exhaustive and will be updated over time as ideas and efforts materialise. We welcome you to contribute any ideas and examples to enrich the content of the Playbook. Do write to us at planning@ncss.gov.sg.

Thrust 1: Empowered and included individuals, families, and communities

Focuses on individuals, families and communities – the target groups whose quality of life will improve as a result of actions taken across the four strategic thrusts.
Our goal for this thrust is to empower these target groups and create a society where they are included.

Outcomes

Thrust 2: Effective and impactful social purpose entities

Focuses on strengthening social purpose entities (SPEs) as channels to empower the individuals, families and communities referred to in Thrust 1 – helping them to gain relevant skills, perspectives, and resources for economic and social inclusion.
Recognises that SPEs can shape the ecosystems they are involved in through their actions.
Our goal for this thrust is to build effective and impactful SPEs by strengthening their organisational capability and capacity, so that in turn, they can generate more social impact.

Outcomes

Thrust 3: Caring, collaborative, and impactful social service ecosystem

Highlights the role of the social service ecosystem in driving and supporting Thrusts 1 and 2, and the need to work together to deliver impactful and holistic support to individuals, families and communities effectively and efficiently.
Our goals for this thrust are to generate greater social impact through strategic and longer-term partnerships, and to find more diverse and sustainable ways of fulfilling our missions, underscored by taking a systems approach in what we do.

Outcomes

Thrust 4: Future-directed social service sector

Focuses on the need to be future-directed to transform our sector.
Our intention is for the efforts under this thrust to help the other thrusts move forward so that ultimately, we can achieve our 4ST vision.