Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services

The Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services (German: Bundesverband privater Anbieter sozialer Dienste e.V., abbreviated bpa) is a German registered association and the country's largest interest group for private providers of social services. Founded in 1964 in Hamburg, the association is headquartered in Berlin with an administrative office in Bonn. It represents more than 14,000 active member institutions operating in ambulatory and (partially) residential care, integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe), and child and youth welfare. According to its own figures, bpa members are responsible for roughly 395,000 jobs and about 29,000 apprenticeship positions, and have invested approximately 31 billion euros in social infrastructure. The bpa describes its members as a systemically relevant part of public service provision and a good example of public-private partnership. Its membership is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises, many of them family-run businesses; typical members include home care services with up to ten employees and owner-managed residential facilities with around 70 beds. The association supports its members with questions about facility operations, continuing education (offering around 1,600 seminars and events annually), implementation of legal and contractual requirements (for example by providing model home and patient contracts and practical work aids), and conducting remuneration negotiations as well as legal questions and disputes. As a representative of a large part of the German care landscape, the bpa is a negotiating partner for administrations, ministries, and politicians at federal, state, and municipal levels. It is represented in state care committees, care rate commissions, arbitration boards of the federal states, and other relevant bodies. The association is organized into 16 state groups, whose state offices are generally located in the respective state capitals. At the federal level, it maintains an honorary structure and a full-time structure with roughly 150 employees across 18 offices. The president has been Bernd Meurer since 1997, and the main managing director is Norbert Grote. The bpa is a member of several organizations, including the Bundesverband der Dienstleistungswirtschaft (BDWi), the Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe (KDA), the Deutscher Verein für öffentliche und private Fürsorge (DV), the Netzwerk Europäische Bewegung Deutschland (EBD), and the European Confederation of Care Home Organisations (E.C.H.O.). Since 1989 it has been a founding member of E.C.H.O., based in Brussels; bpa president Bernd Meurer served as E.C.H.O. president from 2006 and has been its vice-president since 2010. In spring 2007 the association opened an office in Brussels. In 2015 it co-founded the bpa Arbeitgeberverband e.V., an employers' association, whose presidency was taken over by former German economics minister Rainer Brüderle. In 2024 the bpa celebrated its 60th anniversary in Hamburg with 2,200 members and staff. Since 2025 it has acted as the exclusive congress partner of the Pro Care trade fair organized by Deutsche Messe AG, and it continues to campaign on topics such as skilled labor shortage, digitalization, and quality assurance in care. Together with the Verband der Ersatzkassen e.V. (vdek), it advocates a so-called "Kompetenzvermutung" (presumption of competence) that would allow international care workers with at least three years of training or a degree and the necessary language skills to work immediately as skilled workers in Germany, with further checks of training content and any necessary adaptation measures taking place afterwards.

The Bundesverband privater Anbieter sozialer Dienste e.V. (bpa) was founded in 1964 in Hamburg. Originally also known as the Bundesverband privater Alten- und Pflegeheime (bpa), it initially focused on representing private nursing homes and care services. Over the decades it expanded its scope to include ambulatory care services, integration assistance for people with disabilities, and child and youth welfare, becoming the largest private provider association in the social services sector. In 1989 the bpa became a founding member of the European Confederation of Care Home Organisations (E.C.H.O.), the European association of private care provider associations based in Brussels. bpa president Bernd Meurer served as E.C.H.O. president from 2006 and has been its vice-president since 2010. In spring 2007 the association opened an office in Brussels to strengthen its European representation. Bernd Meurer has led the association as president since 1997. Under his leadership the bpa grew to more than 14,000 member institutions. In 2015 the bpa co-founded the bpa Arbeitgeberverband e.V., an employers' association for the care sector, with former German economics minister Rainer Brüderle taking over its presidency. In 2024 the bpa celebrated its 60th anniversary in Hamburg together with 2,200 members and staff, marking six decades of continuous development. Since 2025 the association has acted as the exclusive congress partner of the Pro Care trade fair organized by Deutsche Messe AG, further strengthening its role in industry dialogue. The bpa continues to expand its support offerings on future topics such as skilled labor shortage, digitalization, and quality assurance in care, and advocates for improved conditions for international care workers together with the Verband der Ersatzkassen e.V. (vdek).

• 2025

  Became exclusive congress partner of the Pro Care trade fair.

• 2024

  Celebrated 60th anniversary in Hamburg with 2,200 members and staff.

• 2015

  Co-founded the bpa Arbeitgeberverband e.V.; Rainer Brüderle becomes its president.

• 2010

  Bernd Meurer becomes vice-president of E.C.H.O.

• 2007

  Opened an office in Brussels in spring.

• 2006

  Bernd Meurer serves as E.C.H.O. president.

• 1997

  Bernd Meurer becomes president of the bpa.

• 1989

  Founding member of the European Confederation of Care Home Organisations (E.C.H.O.) in Brussels.

• 1964

  Founded in Hamburg as Bundesverband privater Alten- und Pflegeheime (bpa).

Largest interest representation of private providers of social services in Germany; a reliable contact and negotiating partner for administrations, ministries, and politicians at federal, state, and municipal levels.

• Membership services

  Representation and support for over 14,000 private social service provider institutions.

• Continuing education seminars

  Approximately 1,600 seminars and events annually for member staff.

• Model contracts and work aids

  Provision of model home contracts, patient contracts, and practical work aids.

• Remuneration negotiation support

  Assistance in conducting remuneration negotiations with payers.

• Legal advisory

  Support in legal questions and disputes.

1. 1bpa e. V. - Bundesverband privater Anbieter sozialer Dienstebpa.de
2. 2Über uns: Vision und Mission des bpa e.V.bpa.de
3. 3Bundesverband privater Anbieter sozialer Dienste - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services - Wikidatawikidata.org