One of the main elements of social security is social services. However, it sounds too formal. In fact, the state apparatus considered it necessary to help those in need, which, in fact, is a normal human need - to support their own kind. Depending on what the citizen needs, there are several types of social services that will be discussed.
A moment of terminology
Before starting to consider the types of social services, we will study what this whole system is.
In general, the social service system can be called a complex of social assistance, expressed in material terms and addressed to citizens who find themselves in a difficult life situation, which is caused by illness, old age, disability and other reasons.
The law defines a difficult life situation as a circumstance that violates the normal life of a person, with which he cannot cope on his own. Social assistance is comprehensive and consists of different types of social services.
Typology
If we consider all possible options for social services, then the type of state assistance will be represented by the following categories:
- social and / or socio-medical care at home;
- advisory services in various areas of life;
- emergency social services;
- stationary or half-stationary service for needy categories of citizens;
- providing a temporary shelter for living;
- rehabilitation service.
Home help
This type of social services provides citizens with various kinds of domestic and rehabilitation assistance. Such guardianship is available to single people and those who have partially lost their self-care ability. Home-based assistance is one of the main types of social services for the population, all of which are aimed at extending the stay of people with disabilities and senior citizens in the social environment, as well as protecting their rights and interests.
For the disabled and the elderly, medical care is also provided. Usually it is provided to people who suffer from mental disorders, but are in a state of remission, or simply seriously ill, who do not need treatment in specialized institutions.
Home-based social services include the following:
- catering (this includes home-based food delivery);
- assistance in the purchase of medicines and essentials;
- accompaniment to the hospital and assistance in obtaining medical care;
- maintaining hygiene in the living room;
- assistance in obtaining qualified legal advice;
- organization of funeral services.
Inpatient social services
The next type of social service activity is inpatient support. Simply put, this is providing assistance to citizens who are in such an institution and need constant care. These people have partially or completely lost the ability to service themselves. Employees of the inpatient facility must ensure conditions appropriate to the age and health status of citizens. This is the most labor-intensive type of social service: various kinds of medical and psychological measures should be constantly carried out in institutions, 24-hour care should be provided, and feasible labor activity should be organized, as well as rest and leisure.
Temporary shelter
In specialized institutions can receive temporary shelter:
- orphans;
- children without parental care;
- minors, without constant supervision;
- children in difficult life situations;
- people without a specific residence and profession;
- people who are victims of mental or physical violence, natural disasters, wars, etc.
Social services for these citizens are carried out in special institutions or social service departments created in accordance with the age, state of health and status of citizens. Everyone who lives in social service centers is provided with the following services:
- material and domestic;
- catering and leisure activities;
- medical and sanitary character;
- on the organization of education;
- social and labor rehabilitation;
- legal.
Boarding houses
Elderly people and people with health problems can stay in stationary social security with supporting documents. Also, children go to permanent temporary state guardianship. However, few people know that some inpatient facilities are intended for persons for whom administrative supervision is established. Not only the disabled and the elderly live in such institutions. It can be released especially dangerous recidivists. Also in special institutions are citizens who have been repeatedly convicted or more than once brought to administrative responsibility for violating public order. For such people, there are special boarding houses in which they are provided with all the conditions for living, provide medical care and try to socially adapt to a normal life.
Semi-stationary service
This type of social services for citizens consists of social services, medical and cultural services. Such wardship usually includes elderly people and people with disabilities who have retained the ability to actively move. In order to receive semi-stationary services, a person must write a written application or provide a certificate of health status.
Such institutions include day or night stays at complex centers, as well as social support organizations for persons without a fixed place of residence. In semi-stationary conditions, the following services are provided:
- catering, leisure and life;
- health care;
- legal defense;
- educational assistance.
If we talk about institutions for people without a fixed place of residence, then a completely different system operates there. People are provided with a place to sleep with personal hygiene items, and they are given coupons for one-time (once a day) free meals. Sanitary treatment is carried out and first aid is provided, if necessary, those in need are sent for treatment to the appropriate institution. In addition, they provide assistance in prosthetics, glasses and hearing aids. They help socially adapt and integrate into society. If this does not happen or for some reason is impossible, a person will be issued a boarding house for permanent residence.
Advisory Services
People who turn to social services for help can receive expert advice on various life support issues. Such consultations are aimed at adapting a person in society, reducing social tension and creating favorable conditions in the family.
Basically, all consultations are focused on the psychological support of the citizen. They teach him to make decisions and cope with the situation on his own.
We can say that one of the main types of social services is precisely advisory support, because it:
- provides for the prevention of socio-psychological deviations;
- helps in training, professionally orientates and promotes employment;
- provides competent legal services;
- carries out work with families in which elderly people or people with disabilities live;
- promotes the formation of healthy relationships and helps create a favorable social environment.
Rehabilitation service
Social rehabilitation helps citizens to lead normal, acceptable in society activities. The reasons why a person is in a difficult situation and requires help can be very different. Depending on them, forms and types of social services are selected. Such variability did not pass by the rehabilitation system. Today, the following species are distinguished.
- Socio-medical rehabilitation. It is focused on the full or partial restoration of the normal functioning of the damaged part of the body. In especially severe cases, the job is to slow down the deterioration.
- Psychological rehabilitation. It is aimed at improving mental health, helps to adapt faster in changing conditions.
- Social and pedagogical rehabilitation is focused on helping to get an education and master the necessary skills.
- Vocational rehabilitation helps a citizen find a job.
- Social and household support enables a person to arrange a life and adapt to a new domestic environment.
Urgent help
Urgent social services are provided if it becomes necessary to provide emergency one-time assistance to elderly people, people with disabilities or just citizens who are in dire need of support. Urgent social services may consist of the following services:
- one-time provision of free hot meals or a grocery set;
- provision of basic necessities, clothes and shoes;
- financial assistance;
- assistance in obtaining temporary housing;
- organization of legal, emergency medical and psychological assistance.
Not only old people and people with disabilities are entitled to emergency social assistance, but also all citizens who find themselves in difficult life situations. Including families with children are entitled to receive one-time financial support from the state.
Social assistance
In general, this is all you need to know about the concept and types of social services. Finally, it should be recalled that everyone has the right to help from the state, they just don’t tell us about it. Various social services are provided if there is an appeal from a citizen, his guardian or legal representative. Usually, assistance is provided at the place of actual residence or temporary stay of a person, it can be gratuitous or onerous, carried out on a contractual and non-contractual basis. Both public and private foundations help people.
Over the past few years, social services have come to be seen as a necessary form of assistance, making the entire social security system more efficient. Therefore, it is important to understand that the main thrust of the activities of any state should focus on providing social protection to the population so that citizens can overcome the negative consequences caused by life situations, illness, old age and other reasons.