Contens:
- Types of social services
- Social services - providers and accessibility
- Strategy of social services, European social fund
Types of social services
Social services mediate assistance in the care of one's own person, providing meals, accommodation, assistance in running a household, care and assistance with bringing up a child, providing information, mediation of contact with social environments, psychotherapy and social therapy, assistance in assuring one's rights and interests.
The services aim amongst other things to:
- promote development, or at least maintenance, of the existing self-sufficiency of the user, the user's return into his/her own home environment, renewal or maintenance of their original lifestyle
- enhance the user's abilities and enable them to lead an independent life where possible
- limit social and health risks associated with the users' lifestyle
Social counselling
Gives people the necessary information, mediates the followup services and offers various possibilities how to solve their problems. Usually, social counselling is a part of all kinds of social services or is provided as an independent service. It is always provided free of charge.
Domiciliary care
Provides assistance in the care of one's own person, organising meals and assistance in running a household to people with a limited ability in the area of personal and home care. It is provided in the household and the user participates in the funding of the service.
Personal assistance
The service is intended for people whose capabilities are limited because of disabilities, age or illness for example in the areas of personal care, use of public places, household care, contact with family and broader society. The service is provided in the environment where the individual lives, works, etc. The personal assistance services include reading, interpreting and guiding services. The user participates in the funding of the service.
Respite care
This concerns, in particular, assistance for families that take allyear-long care of a disabled person or senior. The provider supplies services to the individual at times when the family members are at work, on holiday, do common errands outside the home, etc. The care is provided in the household or in specialized residential institutions (day care or short-term stays of up to three months). The user participates in the funding of the service.
Day care centre and week care centre
Are intended for people whose capabilities are limited, particularly in the areas of personal care and household care and who cannot live at home on a daily basis without someone else's assistance. Providing temporary housing may be part of the service. The user participates in the funding of the service.
Stays in homes for the elderly and homes for the people with learning disabilities
Are intended for people whose capabilities are limited, particularly in the areas of personal care and household care and who cannot live at home in this situation. Providing housing in accommodation that is specifically designated for such a purpose and substitute homes for the users are a part of the service. The service is not restricted by time. The user participates in the funding of the service.
Protected and supported housing
Is intended for people whose capabilities are limited, particularly in the areas of personal care and household care and who want to live independently in the standard environment. Providing housing in an apartment that represents a home for the user, is managed by the provider and is part of a standard housing complex, is a part of the service. The user participates in the funding of the service.
Early intervention services
Are oriented towards entire families with a young child whose development is at risk because of a disability or illness. The service includes the use of educational, social and health care measures. The objective is to return or maintain the parents' competence to raise the child and create suitable conditions for the child's development. The services are provided in the household and specialised day care institutions, usually free of charge.
Shelter services
Are intended for homeless people who are interested in acquiring their own housing. The basis of the service is to provide temporary accommodation together with the suggestion and realisation of methods to obtain housing and improve living conditions. The services are provided in specialised asylum institutions. The user usually participates in the funding of the service.
Half-way houses
Halfway houses offer temporary residence services for persons up to 26 years of age, who leave educational facilities for institutional or protection care after reaching their majority. In some cases, they provide services also for persons from other institutional facilities for children and youth care. The services provided include the following: accommodation, mediation of contact with social environment, therapeutical activities and assistance in advocacy of rights and interests. The services are charged.
Hostels
Are intended for homeless individuals who are only interested in overnight stays. No active interest in obtaining their own housing is required. The service involves, primarily, a shelter for the night and possibly food but also the provision of information on the following social services available for the resolution of problems. The user usually participates in the funding of the service.
Emergency assistance (including crisis beds)
This is an urgent kind of assistance for people who fail to cope alone with a bad experience or situation in life in the time period necessary. The assistance in crisis is a short-term service provided non-stop that includes a crisis bed within reach. It is usually provided free of charge.
Outreach programmes
These are programmes for minority groups and people at the risk of poverty (social exclusion). They are intended for people who abuse addictive substances, live in undignified or risky situations, live in an environment that is affected by socially pathological phenomena and are directly at risk from such phenomena. The objective is to provide better orientation in the social environment and create conditions for solving their problems. The service is provided free of charge in places where people in such situations are found most frequently.
Low-threshold services for children and minors
The service is intended for children and minors facing the risk of social exclusion, in particular "street kids". Most often this is a street job. The social worker support is directed towards offering a meaningful way of spending free time and assistance in the neglected family or those with personal problems. The low-threshold character of the service is understood to mean the opportunity to use the service without the necessity to fulfil conditions such as presenting proof of identity, complying with a regular schedule or obligation to participate in the activities on offer. The service is provided free of charge.
Services in contact centres for drug addicts
The service is intended for people who abuse addictive substances, live in undignified conditions or in a risky way and whose lifestyle leads to their failure or refusal to solve their negative social situation. The principle of the service is to create conditions for establishing contact and, if requested, providing information and advice on how to solve their problems. The service is provided free of charge.
Therapeutic communities
The service is intended for people who are addicted to addictive substances (and have received detoxification treatment) and are interested in changing their lifestyle and returning to normal life. The service is provided in a residential institution with a set regime. The length of stay in the therapeutic community is usually for a maximum of one year. The user participates in the funding of the service.
Social services - providers and accessibility
Social services help people to live a normal life - they allow them to work, shop, attend school and places of faith, participate in leisure time activities, take care of themselves, their home, etc. The services aim to maintain the highest possible quality and dignity in their lives. Social services are provided to individuals, families, as well as to groups of people.
Social services are administered to people in adverse social situations if the people are permanent or long-term residents of the Czech Republic. The most numerous groups of beneficiaries are, particularly, the elderly, people with disabilities, families with children however also, people living on the fringes of society for various reasons.
Social services providers
Municipalities and regions look to form suitable conditions for the development of social services, in particular by researching people's real needs and the resources necessary to satisfy such needs, besides that they set up organisations to provide social services.
Non-governmental non-profit organisations and individuals who provide a wide spectrum of services are also important social services providers.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is the incorporator of five specialized social care institutions.
Information on social services
Information on social services and their administration may be obtained from, e.g. the Municipal, Town or Regional Authorities (Social Affairs Departments), in civil or other specialized counselling offices or directly from social services providers.
Applying for a social services
An individual must, usually, apply for a social service. For some types of social services the municipalities and regions issue resolutions on services to be provided in administrative proceedings. This concerns, in particular, domiciliary care services and services associated with staying in homes for people with disabilities and for the elderly. If an NGO is the service provider the user enters into a contract with the provider. The resolution, or the contract, also includes a clause concerning the user's financial participation in the service provided.
Strategy of social services, European social fund
Social services and the MoLSA
The primary task of the MoLSA is the preparation of long-term systematic measures and the relevant legal regulations as well as quality enhancement support of the social services provided. This concerns for, example, the support of:
- planning of a social services network in regions and municipalities based on the people's needs as researched
- qualification enhancement
- quality improvement of services provided with an emphasis on protecting the service users' rights
- civic and mutual activities, that is the non-profit sector.
In the area of non-profit sector support, the Ministry performs a subsidy provision aiming to contribute towards the operation and development of social services provided by NGOs. The subsidy provisions are offered annually.
More information on the subsidy provisions is available on the website of MoLSA.
European social fund and social services
With the Czech Republic's accession to the EU, this system also received an opportunity to use the, so-called, structural aid. The MoLSA mediates the use of funding from the European Social Fund.
In the social area, the self-governed organisations (municipalities, regions), NGOs and other organisations have an opportunity to use funding for:
- employee education aiming to enhance their abilities and skills in the performance of social services
- support and assistance for groups facing the risk of social exclusion - this concerns for example Roma community members, victims of criminality, commercially abused individuals, the homeless and others. More information on the European Social Fund (ESF) is available on the webpages: www.mpsv.cz and www.esfcr.cz.
Should you have any question please send them, via e-mail, to: soc.integrace_esf@mpsv.cz.
Contacts
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Social Services Department
Na Poříčním právu 1, 128 01 Praha 2
Tel.: +420 221 921 111
MoLSA Information Office:
Tel.: +420 221 922 462
www.mpsv.cz, MoLSA journal, e-mail: posta@mpsv.cz