Social service is one of the elements of social security, to which, in accordance with the articles of the Constitution of the state, all citizens of the Russian Federation are entitled. So, let us further consider the concept and principles of social services, its subjects, as well as some of its types.
General concept
If we talk about social services as one of the elements of social security for Russian citizens, we should, first of all, determine its significance.
The concept of social services for the population implies a certain set of actions that are performed by specialized services. They consist in the provision of social, legal, medical, psychological and pedagogical services, as well as the provision of material assistance to disadvantaged segments of the population, as well as to all those who need it due to certain life circumstances prescribed by the legislation of the Russian Federation, regulating the intricacies of social services in Russia population.
The role of social services can be individual organizations or enterprises, presented in their form, which are entrusted with the obligation to provide social services. It should be noted that such services, as a rule, do not have the status of a legal entity. Their clients can be all those citizens who are in a difficult situation at a certain stage in their life.
Legislative regulation
Social services are provided on the basis of certain laws that are currently in force in the Russian Federation. First of all, they include the Constitution of the state, which prescribes that each representative of the population has the right to a normal standard of living. It should be noted that social services and public protection are carried out precisely to achieve such a goal.
The concept, principles and forms of social services are reflected in the articles of the Law "On Social Services". Its norms provide for the implementation by certain services and bodies of such actions that contribute to improving the living standards of the needy layers of the Russian population. All of them prescribe the observance of individual principles, of which humanism and equality are most clearly traced.
The concepts of social services, features and subjects are also widely reflected in normative acts of an international nature. In particular, they can be seen in the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the Universal Declaration on the survival and protection of children.
In addition, the national legislation in this area is directly affected by regulatory acts that have been adopted in individual state entities.
Modern legal practitioners note that, despite the large legislative base that reflects the basic concept and principles of social services, in fact, this sphere of legislation has a large number of so-called gaps that need to be filled.
Basic Services
Serving the population in the social sphere is an activity that can be carried out in various forms. As a concept and principles, types of social services are reflected in the norms contained in the law "On Social Services", which is currently valid in the Russian Federation.The specified normative act offers the population services in the form of providing material assistance, which can be provided in cases stipulated by the legislator to a certain circle of people.
In practice, another type of social service is often used - at home, as well as in inpatient facilities. Needy representatives of the Russian population within the framework of existing programs may be given the opportunity to live in social shelters on a permanent basis or to stay in them only in the daytime.
In the framework of state programs provided for by current legislation, rehabilitation services or advisory assistance may be provided to the population.
Principles
The concept of social services for citizens contains certain information about the principles on which all the activities of the services that carry it out are built.
The main ones that underlie the implementation of the type of activity under consideration include targeting and accessibility. Such principles imply only that any type of assistance should be available to everyone in need, and all actions should be addressed, that is, with respect to a specific person who has made a request for their provision.
Any activity of social protection services should be carried out on a voluntary basis. It implies that any activity of specialized services should not be carried out under duress.
The concept of the principles of social services for the population and citizens states that all actions should be carried out on a confidential basis. This means that social services cannot publicize the list of those who are the recipients of assistance, and the nature of the actions taken.
In accordance with the principles of the provision of social assistance to vulnerable groups established by law, the actions of services should, in the first place, be applied to minors, as well as those who are of advanced age. This is due to the fact that the state recognizes these segments of the population as the least protected.
And, finally, another important principle - it consists in the preventive orientation of all actions that are carried out by social services. This means that all actions that are carried out within the framework of social security programs of the state’s population should prevent the deterioration of the living standards of Russian residents.
Social services of any nature should be based on respect for human freedoms and legitimate interests, honor, and also on the basic principle - humanity. Any person, regardless of their gender, racial, religious or other affiliation, has the right to receive social protection in the form of services provided to him.
The concept and legal principles of social services for the population stipulate that information on the possibility of receiving the types of assistance being considered should be accessible to all segments of the population. Its main sources are not only regulations, but also the media, as well as consulting departments at social centers.
Subjects
As in any other legal relationship, in the field of social services, there are two parties, representatives of each of which are their subjects. With one of them, the state plays the role of the latter, which provides a set of actions called social services through certain bodies and services. Such bodies may include services formed by local self-government bodies, as well as representatives of authorities, organizations and institutions, regardless of the form of ownership they belong to.
As for the subjects representing the second side, representatives of the population may act as such, who, due to any circumstances, need to provide social assistance. The legislator provides that, first of all, disabled people, elderly people, as well as minor citizens of the state can count on it. In addition, a number of social services are provided for other vulnerable and low-income groups. It should be noted that in the Russian Federation most social services can be used not only by citizens of the country, but also by refugees and persons without citizenship of any state.
Reasons for providing assistance
The basic concept of social services in the law of social security states that only those people who find themselves in difficult life situations can receive any kind of assistance. In other words, the occurrence of a specific case prescribed by law is already a full-fledged basis for the provision of social services to a specific subject.
What should be understood by the term "difficult life situation"? The legislator gives a clear definition of it, which is contained in the text of the regulations governing the social security industry. They say that difficult life situations are circumstances in which, in an objective sense, the normal life of a particular citizen or his entire family is disrupted. The peculiarity of this circumstance is that a person cannot actually overcome it on his own. Vivid examples of such can be situations where a person to some extent loses legal capacity, family well-being or becomes disabled. The legislator also refers to such cases as orphanhood, recognition of the poor, large families, the absence of a specific place for permanent residence, the onset of old age, release from prison, etc.
Social services for children
It should be noted that the concept of social services for citizens can separately apply to minor children. It must be understood that this population group is the least protected and needs additional support.
The concept of social services for children is presented in the provisions of the law "On the basics of social services for the population." It provides for a number of types of social assistance to minor representatives of the Russian population. One of them is conducting educational programs for children who need it. As part of this, legal, psychological, individually oriented pedagogical, medical, and social assistance can be provided to children. Assistance of this nature can also be provided not only to individuals, but also to entire educational organizations.
The concept of social services for children also includes the activities of specialized social services in relation to the implementation of health-improving measures, as well as advising adolescents and toddlers on ways to relieve stress (as a rule, such actions are carried out anonymously).
Most of the social services for minors of the Russian population are held in specialized institutions, which are of several types in the Russian Federation: correctional orphanages, homes, schools, boarding schools, etc. As a rule, children who are orphans are placed in such institutions. as well as those who were left without normal parental care.
Children in these institutions are supported by state support.All the programs that are implemented in them, as well as the educational activities used, are based on some principles, which include: humanism, free development of the individual, citizenship, autonomy of secular education, as well as the protection of the legitimate interests and rights of each pupil.
Disabled Services
In the process of considering the concept of social services for the population, one should pay attention to the fact that the state directs a considerable part of its efforts to ensuring the normal living standards of people with disabilities. All actions in this field of activity are carried out solely on the basis of the provisions presented in the Federal Law "On Social Services for Persons with Disabilities". It says that this type of service is a combination of certain actions provided by specialized services aimed at providing social services to the population of the Russian Federation, classified as a group of people with disabilities.
This type of service is based on some principles, which include not only general ones (humanity, respect for interests and human rights, protection of dignity and honor, etc.), but also industry ones. These include principles such as: prioritizing the provision of assistance to persons with disabilities, focusing services on the particular needs of persons with disabilities, and ensuring equal opportunities in obtaining services.
The concept of social services for people with disabilities implies the use of several forms of action. Among these, industry laws include service in stationary institutions, in a semi-hospital, as well as at home. In addition, any person with a disability has the right to receive advice in its various forms (oral or written).
To provide in-patient social assistance, the state organized a specific list of specialized institutions that are financed from budgetary funds. These, on the basis of the legislation of the Russian Federation, include boarding schools, homes for the disabled, rehabilitation and gerontological centers.
Social services for people with disabilities in these institutions of the Russian Federation boil down to providing medical, psychological, cultural and social services. It is this form of service, according to experts, that contributes to the speedy rehabilitation of people with disabilities.
As for providing assistance for a disabled person at home, these actions are usually expressed in visits to specific people on certain dates and holidays, during which work of a certain nature is carried out. Modern specialized centers currently work closely with representatives of the clergy who also target people with disabilities, conduct educational conversations with them, and provide psychological assistance.
Serving Senior Citizens
If we talk in more detail about the concept of social services for citizens, it should be noted that it provides for individual methods of protecting people who are classified as elderly people. The system within which this group of people is served provides for a whole structure, which is composed of certain state and non-state institutions of a social nature (boarding houses, social service centers).
As for the activities of bodies included in the structure under consideration, it is primarily aimed at the provision of social services in a hospital and at home. The main tasks pursued in these types of activities are to ensure the social inclusion of the elderly, their health, as well as maintaining active work in various fields.
A special place in the structure of organizations whose activities are aimed at providing social services to elderly people is occupied by gerontological and social-health-improving (sanatoriums) institutions. As for the second type of organizations, their functions are quite multifaceted and consist in the implementation of comprehensive services (medical and social).
Home service
One type of social assistance is the presentation of a specific list of home services. The concept and essence of social services of this kind are reflected in the content of the law "On the Basics of Social Services". Sociologists note that this particular type of service allows organizing the protection of specific representatives of the population in their habitual environment.
Speaking about the concept and principles of social services for the population, it should be noted that this type of work of social services is aimed at the closest interaction of the recipient of assistance with representatives of social structures. Home service involves regular visits to the recipient in order to assist in various areas of life: the acquisition of food, medicine, escort to medical institutions, the organization of the provision of domestic and social services. Often, social services are involved in assisting in the burial of single people, as well as in the preparation of various documents.
Individual service program
In order for the provision of services to have the highest quality result, an individual service program is created for each needy person by specialized services. The basis for her schedule are the main problems and needs of the person. A review of such a program should be carried out at least three times a year.
Many experts, speaking about the concept of social services and its types, devote their attention to the peculiarities of the nature of such programs. It should be noted that they are at the same time both advisory and mandatory. In the first case, the rule applies to the subject to whom assistance is provided, and in the second case to the one who provides it.
The basic concepts of social services in the Russian Federation are that when a person changes his place of residence, a needy person does not lose his rights and social guarantees. Moreover, his social services should be provided in the same volume as before, but only in the new place of residence.
An agreed individual program should be reflected in the form of an agreement concluded between the two parties. The document must be executed in duplicate. A citizen must receive his copy of such an agreement no later than 10 days after its signing.