Social services: principles and types

At the present stage, the socio-economic and political situation in Russia is unstable, which is the reason for the growing number of people in need of state support. The solution of these issues provides social services. The principles of this system meet the latest standards for the organization of various forms of assistance and were formulated taking into account the specifics of emerging social problems.

Factors of development of the sphere of social services

The concept and principles of social services have been repeatedly changed and transformed, as various approaches to the consideration of these issues appeared. With the development of statehood and civil society, they have become much more complicated and expanded. However, the principles of this work as an activity took shape even in the century before last, so, relatively recently, the organization of assistance to needy people has acquired a form such as social services. Principles were formed under the influence of philosophical, sociological, economic paradigms of social work. At the present stage, their content also meets the requirements of the legislation.

A new stage in the development of the Russian system of social assistance began after the events of 1991.

Social services: the definition and legislative framework

The domestic sphere of state aid to the needy population is everywhere reformed and improved. The notion and principles of social services are not only In many respects characterize the normative activities of the state, but also reflect the directions of social policy in relation to the weakly protected sections of society.

Clients of social services are citizens who have fallen into a difficult life situation. This term means a situation (illness, disability, lonely motherhood, unemployment, old age, etc.), objectively violating the life of a citizen who can not be overcome by himself.

The concept and principles of social services of the population determine the specifics of the organization of work with clients. At the end of 2013, a new law "On the Basics of Social Services for Citizens in the Russian Federation" was adopted, which determined the economic, social and legal grounds and organization of this type of activity. In addition, powers have been re-established that are within the competence of state authorities and regional authorities in the sphere of work on servicing citizens and providing them with qualified social assistance. At the same time, the rights and obligations of recipients of social services were approved. They were referred to as persons having Russian citizenship, as well as foreigners who do not have this status, but who reside permanently in the country, for example refugees. That is, the recipient of services can be any citizen, legally recognized as needing social assistance.

The new legislation established the concept, principles, forms of social services. It is a purposeful activity to provide a whole range of social services to various categories of needy citizens. A social service is an action or action that is rendered on a permanent, periodic, one-time basis to improve living conditions or to increase the capacity for independent resolution of life's difficulties.

Undoubtedly, social services have a completely different meaning in other countries. Principles, forms of work with the population in our country and abroad Are determined by territorial, economic, cultural and other peculiarities of a particular state or region.

Structure of social services

Today in Russia, a multi-level system is developed, consisting of forms and technologies of work, institutions, organizations that carry out social services. Principles must be respected by every supplier without question and regardless of belonging to a particular agency.

The state system of social services is complex and includes:

• Executive body of the federal level, whose task is to develop and implement the provisions of public policy and regulatory and legal regulation in the field of social services;
• A state level regional authority that is authorized to implement state guarantees of social assistance;
• Directly the organizations and institutions of social services of the population, which are under the jurisdiction of federal, regional and local executive authorities;
• Non-profit and commercial (non-governmental) organizations that have the right (permission) to provide social services to needy citizens;
• Individual entrepreneurs specializing in social services.

The law also defines the subjects (suppliers) and objects (recipients) participating in the process and having a legal right to affordable social services. Principles, the order of organization of work of population institutions are developed taking into account regional features of the subject of Russia. Clients of social services are mostly disabled people, pensioners, incomplete and large families, military personnel, unemployed.

Changes occurring at the state level are directly impacting social services for the population. Principles, types, functions should demonstrate the effectiveness of work in emergency situations and in conditions of multitasking.

Main functions of the system

Researchers of the basics of social work identified two main groups of functions that relate to social services:

1) the essence-activity (social patronage, preventive, adaptive, social-rehabilitation, security-protective);

2) moral and humanistic (personal and socio-humanistic).

They are manifested in macro and micro levels of social services. The optimal operation of elements and subsystems of social services is directly related to their practical implementation.

It is necessary to take into account that the functions and principles of social service are extended not only to one recipient, but also to the collective of people united by a common problem. That is, this activity is conducted both at the individual and group levels.

Principles of the provision of social services

Principles of social services for the population Are characterized as comprehensive, integrated, acting in the interests of the recipients of services. The basis for working with citizens from poorly protected sections of the population is the provisions on the observance of the rights and freedoms of each person, respecting him as a person, it does not allow insults to the dignity and honor of a person, pursues the humane nature of the attitude towards clients.

The basic principles of the representation of social services are:

• Free and equal access of a citizen of any age, sex, language, religion, nationality, convictions, place of residence, membership in public associations permitted in the state. From this it follows that the principles of social services Guarantee the needy the same opportunities in obtaining the necessary services.
• Targeted provision of all types of social assistance, that is, a set of social services should be implemented taking into account the needs of a particular client, his internal resources.
• The providers of social services should be approached to the territory of the residence of their recipient, the necessary number of suppliers to ensure the satisfaction of customers, as well as the optimal number of personnel, financial, information and other opportunities for social services.
• Maximum preservation of the habitual favorable environment for the client's stay;
• Voluntary start.
• Confidentiality of work: the provider of social services undertakes to keep and not disclose personal data, personal information and other information about the client. In addition, it is not permitted to disclose confidential, proprietary information. Violation of this principle carries with it the involvement of the culprit in the responsibility provided for by the Russian legislation. Only after receiving the written consent of the recipient (legal representative) of social services is it possible to transfer, copy information by other persons in the interests of the recipient. However, there are legal grounds that allow violating the principle of confidentiality and requesting information: the request of the court authorities, investigation, inquiry and others in connection with the conduct of the trial and other procedures, when processing processing on the public services portal or other portals in accordance with the law.

When organizing the work with the client, all the principles of social services for the population should be involved. Thus, it would be appropriate to approve an integrated approach to the organization of relief activities.

It should be noted that the principles of social services for citizens are taken into account when developing state standards and administrative regulations for the provision of services to those in need at all levels: from the federal agency to the local institution.

Guaranteed rights to recipients of social services

The principles of the law of social services reflect the level of humanity of the state and society in relation to needy citizens.

Clients of social services have the right to:

• Respect and humane attitude;
• Obtaining information on their own rights and duties, types, terms, procedure, conditions, tariffs for rendering services in the institution free of charge and on an accessible basis; in addition, the client can always obtain information about the provider of the service, about the possibility of receiving assistance free of charge;
• Citizens have the right to an independent and voluntary choice of an institution to which they can be provided with the necessary service;
• To refuse the service;
• Guarantee of protection of legitimate rights and interests;
• Ensuring the social and hygienic requirements of the conditions of stay and proper care in social service institutions;
• Free access to the recipient by legal representatives, notaries, lawyers and other persons during the evening and daytime;
• The right of social support.

The specified rights by the client can not be violated, otherwise the consumer has a legitimate reason to apply for clarification to higher authorities or to forward the statement of claim to the court.

Obligations of recipients

In the normative legal documents, the duties of each client are also prescribed, that is, any recipient of a social service must:

• Provide documents and information that are necessary for the provision of social services;
• Timely inform the supplier of changes in personal data or circumstances affecting the provision of assistance;
• Do not violate the terms of the service agreement, including timely and full payment, if any;
• Not to violate the generally accepted rules and norms of behavior in society, the discipline in the institution.

Due to violation of one or several rules, the social service has the right to temporarily suspend the work with the client or refuse the requested service altogether.

The federal law also provides for the rights, obligations of suppliers. Each of them is obliged to fully provide a set of requested services, to carry out this work in a timely manner, in accordance with the legislation and existing regulations of activities.

Conditions for the provision of social assistance

The legalized principles of social services affect the procedure for providing all types of assistance. The basis is a personal statement of the client (legal representative), transferred to the institution, or appeal to state and local authorities, public associations in the framework of the organization of interagency cooperation.

At no cost, social services can be provided to people affected by man-caused, natural disasters and other emergencies, with inter-ethnic and armed clashes, and children under 18 years of age.

The application is considered within the deadlines established by the rules, after which the institution conducts the procedure for recognizing the citizen who has applied for a person in need of social assistance. If the supplier refuses to provide the customer with the necessary services, the latter has the right to appeal against the decision in court.

The basic principles of social services serve as a criterion for evaluating the performance of service providers. If they are observed, then the solution of problems of customers is at a high level.

Financing of the sphere of social services

The sources of financing of the social service system include budgetary funds (federal, regional, local levels of government); Voluntary donations or charitable contributions; Payment by citizens for social services provided to them; Funds from business activities or other sources that are not prohibited by law.

Forms and types of social services

In fact, social services are an indispensable part of the social sphere. The concept, principles, types constitute its content.

The main forms of providing social services are:

• Home-based services;
• Semi-permanent service, that is, services are provided only at certain times of the day;
• In-patient services, namely: the servicing of clients is carried out continuously or temporarily, five days a week in the conditions of permanent residence in the institution.

However, not only the principles were legalized in the normative document. Types of social services mean a wide range of activities, designed to address a set of consumer problems.

Social protection institutions provide the following types of services to clients:

• Social welfare, providing assistance in the everyday sphere of the client in the process of life;
• Social and medical, which are aimed at maintaining and preserving the health of the recipient of the service through the organization of proper care for it, providing support for recreational activities, organizing monitoring of the health and overall well-being to prevent the occurrence of abnormalities;
• Socio-psychological services provide for correctional assistance in the process of adaptation to new social conditions, as well as provision of emergency assistance in difficult life situations via a hotline;
• Social and pedagogical, the purpose of which is to prevent deviations in the development of the individual, reinforce positive interests, train the right forms of organizing leisure activities; Assistance to any family in matters of raising children;
• Social and labor are called upon to assist in finding a job for the client and help him cope with the problems that have arisen at the adaptation station to the workplace;
• Social and legal provide for the provision of legal assistance, protection of the rights and interests of the recipient;
• Services aimed at improving the communication skills of a client with limited health opportunities;
• Various types of urgent social services: provision of food packages or hot meals; Clothes and shoes; Articles of prime necessity; Assistance in finding temporary housing; Provision of emergency psychological assistance; Issuance of one-time financial assistance; Legal advice and other services.

For needy citizens, if necessary, assistance may be provided that does not relate to social services, otherwise - social support.

The degree of complexity, the length of service delivery, the level of their adequacy and the compliance of requirements are at the core of the criteria for the effectiveness of social services in relation to different categories of citizens. Observance of legislative norms, ethical code and local regulations will make social services quality, the result of their actions is effective, which in aggregate will contribute to reducing social tension in society.