"Leave no one behind" is one of the main principles of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). This is linked to the goal of reducing existing inequalities and establishing a more inclusive society in which all people can participate equally (UNSDG 2024). In modern working societies in particular, a lack of professional participation represents a major risk of exclusion, which can have a negative impact on social, societal and economic areas of life for those affected (Wansing 2005, 193). In addition to this normative dimension, promoting the professional participation of as many people of working age as possible is of central importance to the welfare state, especially in times of increasing skills shortages (Ixmeier et al. 2023).

Long-term unemployed people with health impairments are particularly affected by social exclusion, as these two attributes can be seen as a double hurdle when it comes to returning to a gainful employment to cover needs  (Beste et al. 2023, 127f.).This problem is all the more virulent as there is a connection between long-term unemployment and health impairments (Kaps et al., 2019). In addition, there are often other barriers to participation in the labor market, such as a lack of vocational or school qualifications, advanced age, language deficits or care responsibilities (Beste, et al. 2023, 127f.).Against this backdrop, a fairly constant proportion of long-term unemployment can be observed in the Federal Republic of Germany: in December 2023, this figure was around 930,000 people (BA 2024). According to estimates by the Federal Institute for Employment Research, up to a quarter of a million of these people have such serious barriers, that their reintegration into work is unlikely under the current support instruments (Trappmann et al. 2019).

Previous attempts by the welfare state to intervene in order to sustainably reduce intersectional barriers to participation for long-term unemployed people with health impairments have often come to nothing. However, increasing access to vocational training could be a decisive opportunity to promote participation (Umkehrer 2020). Against the backdrop of entrenched long-term unemployment, the German legislator created a new standard instrument for promoting participation in basic social security for the long-term unemployed in 2023 - the holistic support in accordance with §16k SGBII. This is understood to mean "methods that include the assessment and development of personal skills and prospects"(BA 2023, 5), whereby employability is to be consolidated by overcoming individual problems with regard to the "life situation as a whole (...) [and] not just labor market-relevant content" (ibid.).

The rehapro model project Essen.Pro.Teilhabe (EPT) has been testing such a holistic support strategy since the beginning of 2020 in order to improve the support situation of long-term unemployed people with health impairments. Innovative elements of EPT include, in particular, interdisciplinary cooperation between different providers and the long-term, holistic support approach in an adaptive, sanction-free setting. The project is being scientifically monitored and evaluated by the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Based on current empirical data from the model project, the article outlines complex needs and conditions for the success of holistic skills development as a new educational practice and thus provides indications for a more inclusive and sustainable system of social participation support.

The methodological basis is a mixed-method study design. The analysis results to be presented here are based on EPT participant surveys at the beginning of their participation in the project (n=145) and after at least 9 months of the project (n=60). The data was collected between August 2020 and November 2023 and analyzed using statistical methods. The findings were supplemented by the analysis of project progress data (n=252) and a content analysis of interviews (n=42) with project participants and observation protocols (n=44).

By November 2023, 252 participants had joined the pilot project. Of these, over 90% had at least two health impairments - around 75% had both physical and mental health problems. Accordingly, at the start of participation in the project, health stabilization takes precedence over direct occupational participation support. In addition, work on overarching skills (especially self-confidence) and professional orientation as well as the reduction of social problems (e.g. debt counselling/organization of care activities) are important support levers. Against the backdrop of these diverse problem situations, in addition to the voluntary nature of participation, a long period of support and the individual, close-meshed and holistic structure of the offer in line with the complex needs of the participants is a decisive condition for success. With a view to the individual, a holistic, skills-oriented educational approach comes into play in pedagogical practice, in which the teaching of self-competence and social skills is on an equal footing with professional expertise (Euler 2020). In addition, external barriers to participation need to be removed and access to support networks facilitated. The holistic support strategy is correspondingly resource-intensive, but it creates new perspectives for professional participation. So far, 81 people have successfully completed the pilot project, of which around 70% have been able to gain direct access to the labor market. However, due to the complex problems faced by many participants, professional reintegration often requires more time. A far-reaching perspective of participation support appears to be urgently required. However, the holistic support strategy has reached its limits, particularly in view of the voluntary nature of the project: almost 40% of all participants dropped out of the pilot project prematurely. The main reasons for this were a lack of ability to participate due to serious health problems and especially a lack of acceptance of the holistic support strategy.

BA (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) (2024). Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit. Einzelausgabe – Dezember 2023. URL: https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/SiteGlobals/Forms/Suche/Einzelheftsuche_Formular.html?nn=1610096&topic_f=langzeitarbeitslosigkeit [31.01.2024]. BA (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) (2023). Fachliche Weisung. Ganzheitliche Betreuung nach § 16k SGB II. Stand 25.05.2023. URL: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/fachliche-weisung-zu-p-16k-sgb-ii_ba044156.pdf [31.01.2024]. Beste, J., Mustafa C. & Trappmann, M. (2023). Zahlreiche Faktoren verringern die Erfolgsaussichten von Grundsicherungsbeziehenden. In: Wirtschaftsdienst, Jg. 103, H. 2, pp. 123-129. Euler, D. (2020). Kompetenzorientierung in der beruflichen Bildung. In: Arnold, R., Lipsmeier, A., Rohs, M. (Hrsg.): Handbuch Berufsbildung. Wiesbaden, pp. 205-218. Ixmeier, S., Muenk, D. & Muscati, N. (2023). "Making a virtue of necessity": Substitution potentials in the face of the shortage of skilled workers - ways to a sustainable future using the example of the German vocational training system. In V. Tūtlys, L. Vaitkutė & C. Nägele (Eds.), Vocational Education and Training Transformations for Digital, Sustainable and Socially Fair Future. Proceedings of the 5th Crossing Boundaries Conference in Vocational Education and Training, Kaunas, 25. – 26. May (pp. 222–228). European Research Network on Vocational Education and Training, VETNET, Vytautas Magnus University Education Academy, Institute of Educational Science. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7821811 Kaps, P., Oschmiansky, F., Ebach, M., Popp, S., Berthold, J. (2019). Was benötigen und wie gelingen Wiedereinstiege von exkludierten Personen in soziale und arbeitsmarktliche Zusammenhänge?. Abschlussbericht. Berlin. Trappmann, M., Ramos Lobato, P., Unger, S., Lietzmann, T. (2019). Leistungsberechtigte mit gesundheitlichen Einschränkungen: Nicht jeder ist erwerbsfähig. In: IAB Forum. URL: https://www.iab-forum.de/leistungsberechtigte-mit-gesundheitlichen-einschraenkungen-nicht-jeder-ist-erwerbsfaehig/ [31.01.2024]. Umkehrer, M. (2020). Wiedereinstieg nach Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit: Welche Arbeitsverhältnisse sind stabil, welche nicht? IAB-Kurzbericht Nr. 15/ 2020, pp. 1-12. UNSDG (United Nations Sustainable Development Group) (2024). Universal Values. Principle Two. Leave No One Behind. URL: https://unsdg.un.org/2030-agenda/universal-values/leave-no-one-behind [31.01.2024]. Wansing, G. (2005). Teilhabe an der Gesellschaft. Menschen mit Behinderung zwischen Inklusion und Exklusion. Wiesbaden.