Social Services System in Spain: Structure, Organization & Planning
COMPETENCIAL DISTRIBUTION: FUNCTIONAL AND TERRITORIAL
Functional Organization
The various laws of the Autonomous Social Services System (SSSS) define functional organization as the establishment and management of shelters and services, the delivery and implementation of other activities, and the working relationship between them.
The Public SSSS of each Autonomous Community (CCAA) comprises all schools and departments of regional and local administrations within that Community. This system is organized on two levels:
a) Primary Social Care:
This structure establishes contact between citizens and the SSSS, providing access to its services. It is comprehensive (addressing a full range of social demands and developing various responses) and community-based (responding to the needs of people within their own environment: family, neighborhood, district, or municipality).
Functions of Primary Social Care:
- Detection, analysis, and needs assessment within its operational area.
- Identification and recruitment of at-risk populations for developing campaigns and preventive actions.
- Development of community programs for empowering individuals and groups, and for the prevention and early detection of risk situations.
- Development of programs and activities to prevent exclusion and facilitate social reintegration.
- Promoting solidarity and social cooperation.
b) Specialized Social Welfare:
This structure responds to situations of particular complexity, requiring greater technical specialization, concentration of resources, and skilled personnel.
Functions of Specialized Social Welfare:
- Detection, analysis, and needs assessment.
- Diagnosis and technical assessment of situations, needs, or unique problems.
- Advice, support, and specialized treatment.
- Development of socio-educational, recuperative, or rehabilitative activities.
- Management of economic benefits, excluding social emergencies.
Subdivisions
The laws of the Autonomous SSSS define subdivisions as the assignment of centers, services, and resources to a specific geographical area to meet the social needs of its residents.
To implement this concept, each Community establishes SSSS maps. These maps should include the territorial divisions that constitute the territorial organization of the SSSS and the necessary coordination mechanisms to facilitate communication and ensure synergy between all existing resources, whether primary social care or specialized social care.
THE PLANNING OF SSSS LAWS IN THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES
Strategic Plans for SSSS
Each CCAA, as stated in its SSSS Laws, develops a Strategic Plan to organize the measures, services, resources, and actions needed to achieve the objectives of each SSSS within the autonomous region.
Sectoral Plans and Programs
To complement and develop the Strategic Plans, the CCAAs also create Sectoral Plans based on identified social needs and problems. These plans are designed to provide social care for children and youth, people with disabilities, the elderly, individuals in situations of dependency, foreign immigrants, and those experiencing social exclusion.
Additionally, plans or programs are developed for counties, districts, or other territorial areas where specific circumstances of the inhabitants, their living conditions, or other factors require short- to medium-term situational action.
a) Ethnic Minority SSSS: These services endeavor to promote and develop activities that, while fully respecting the cultural values of national minorities, encourage real and effective equality among citizens, eliminating institutional or social discrimination. They cater to citizens belonging to the Roma or other ethnic minorities settled in the CCAAs. Their functions include developing social awareness campaigns to promote integration, retrieving and disseminating information while respecting cultural values, enhancing professional skills to revitalize traditional occupations, and promoting new work activities.
b) Emergency Situations SSSS: These services aim to develop programs and actions to provide necessary support to individuals or groups who, due to various circumstances, are subject to social exclusion and cannot address their situation independently. Beneficiaries are typically those affected by disasters or catastrophes whose consequences impact their usual income. Their functions include formulating and implementing programs for prevention and social rehabilitation, in addition to providing minimum economic support.