Dear Helena,

In order to be able to answer your question one should know the outcomes of the "Mapping of public services”.

Dear @Andras, here it is! "...These services include water, energy, education, public transport, postal services, healthcare, telecommunications, social care, public administration and so on."

http://www.ceep.eu/mapping-evolution-of-public-services-in-europe/

Dear @Helena have forgotten to add some more details. Here is the report attached!

Hello Helena, 

Please view attached:

Daryn

Dear Helena,

 well, I am not really expert about social services in Europe, but from what I know from comparing Portugal with Germany, the welfare state is much more developed in the latter and social services have definitely suffered important drawbacks in Portugal (and obviously in Greece) in the past years due to the crisis. In these countries, probably the social networks, families and charity has substituted what I think would be a State responsibility, simply due to missing funds within the public sector.

In the public services in Portugal, first salaries were cut (and are still not back to the 2008 level), then the staff was drastically reduced, making the remaining staff work harder. Even the weekly work load was increased to 40 hours/ week and several public holidays were eliminated… I wonder how this will pay off on the long run, in terms of health and family conditions of public servants, but also in terms of assistance towards all citizens in need  (and there are always news about the services not being able to cope… and people suffering from it, sometimes with dramatic results…)

 As a matter of fact, I would like to see European citizens with more equal rights and conditions in many respects, with more solidarity among all regarding not only the poor within each country, but also the less developed countries, so that all in Europe could live in minimally dignified conditions. However, all should assume responsibilities over the money received from the EU, too, since this money is also collected from European citizens. All over, there should be a better control over the public funds, everybody  should be held responsible and eager to help avoid any misuse. Each citizen should be aware of his/ her rights and duties, making possible a true welfare state, in which all have access to free education and other conditions fundamental to quality of life and continuous development of our society, and at least access to the aid needed in times of difficulties and personal/ family drama (e.g. unemployment, illness), i.e. all should contribute to the system functioning and being sustainable…. A thorough discussion of all this, in the public, at school, universities, and in some cases cultural change may be needed.

And yes, studies are needed to, to better understand what is going on and how things may evolve in a more satisfactory way. The "mapping exercise" seems excellent, thanks for the information about this, Ljubomir Jacic!

Thanks Helena for posing such a q.

Like some others in the answer trail - I am not closely familiar with social services in EU. The mapping activity sounds like a fine initiative.

I can comment that in Australia social services and more broadly community and social interventions to build community have been drastically cut over the past few years.

Whether associated with these cuts, we are now experiencing the emergence of various negative social issues. For example - there is much press in Australia at present re an Ice epidemic among our adolescents and young adults - both urban and rural locations.

While there is no research in Aust to make the link, there is much research elsewhere linking availability of social services/supports and lifestyle choices/health. I cannot help but reason the cutting of social services/community programs - while great to reduce budget overspend - will have short to long term negative social impacts. In this regard, there is strong evidence emerging from the UK of these links.

Dear András, Ljubomir , Daryn, Elisabeth and Neil,

Many thanks all relevant information you gave me on the social service, which can help other researchers to express their views.

Helena

Dear Helena,

You can contact my mail [email protected] with some background. My RG reply is not working properly. However, there will be drastic (adverse) effect on the mode of social service if the joint family breaks in to nucleus. This reduces the responsibility towards society. Please mail me for further interaction.

Regards,

ABHIJIT

Dear Helena,

Social Services Mapping Indicators, may be useful:                                                           

1. Household whose children (under one year old) have NOT had birth registrations yet.

2. Household whose one-year-old children have NOT had seven vaccinations.

3. Household with pregnant women who have NOT accessed health services.

4. Household whose three- to five-year-old children have NOT attended preschool.

5. Household whose 6- to 11-year-old children have NOT attended school or have dropped out of school.

6. Household that does NOT have access to clean water.

7. Household that does NOT have a latrine.

8. Household that has orphans or abandoned children.

9. Household that has children living with chronically ill parents or caregivers.

10. Household that has children with disabilities.

11. Household with children who have been exposed to and/or directly impacted by violence or abuse (migration, rape, child labour).

12. Household that has poor ID cards.

13. Household that has youth involved in gang and/or drug related activity. 

Some other indicators:

 · Construction materials used for houses

· Household that has not had enough to eat for the past six months

· Household headed by a single parent (with many children)

· Household with elderly people living alone

Please check also the link full project.

http://www.unicef.org/cambodia/Report_Internal_Assessment_SSM.pdf

I think that efficient social services, provided to the public in Europe, are not only good for Europe but are good for the whole world. Sometimes, the importance of Europe is underestimated given that there has been an ascendance in other parts of the world.

From few readings, my conclusion is that providing the social services is good in some countries & less than good in some countries. To improve the rating of providing social services, part of the used funds ought to be invested in more profitable projects & bureaucracy within the rank & file of public servants ought to be eliminated. The weak "spots" in Europe ought to be helped to become more efficient & not just by bailing out or postponing debts. It is better for Europe to become stronger as a single unit & to not let each country go its way.

Dear Nizar, Subhash , Abhijit , Ljubomir and all,

I really appreciate your interest in may question.

I am always learning new things because I think all is connected..

Thank you for let me be person a little less ignorant.

Have a nice day

Helena

The relationship between the centre of the EU political system and the member countries from an outsiders perspective appears to be very asymmetrical, at least in the area of social policy. If the EU has the goal of ensuring a similar level of basic social services across participating EU members, it could use its spending capacity to do so. For example requiring member countries to provide basic welfare, health care, education, pension, unemployment benefits and labour protection. In exchange the EU governing body would fund this social policy, based on a needs assessment between 15-40%. The EU could state the basic standards that each member country must comply with, in the event that a member country does not comply, the EU would withhold funding based on a prenegotiated formula.

This is just an example; the political, financial and legal particularities would all have to be negotiated, accepted by various governments, and it would be difficult. Sovereignty, financial contributions, level of benefits, opting in/out, and enforcement would all be examples of red flag political issues.

Daryn 

Dear Ljubomir,

Many thanks for your kind efforts.

Dear All,

I have had a look at this document. It seems to be very economically drafted. I am not an economist thus I need to read it more than an hour. I think that economic parameters can efficiently describe the situation of social services however personnel experiences and comparisons are more important for simple people like me. For example the operation of health care or the post etc. Fortunately, there is an area on which many of us may be experts. This is the efficiency and normal operation ability of higher education and research. Now, what is your opinion on these aspects of your own country? Are you satisfied?

Dear Helena

I am not specialist in this topic. Nevertheless, would be interesting to analyze how citizens are aware about the implication of social services in their regular lives. Actually, social services could be understood as an entire system that comes from the state to improve the quality of live of citizens? From the right to school until the health, all of these services can be understood as social services? If yes, would be very interesting to compare the perception of citizens about the implication of social services in their lives with the really influence of such services in the community.

Cheers

Filipe

Dear Colleagues,

Good day,

This is my own opinion bout the social services in UK as I lived there for 7-8 years during 1973-1980, they were:

1-  very efficient

2- very effective

3-  unprejudiced

4- health services are excellent.

5- care for Elderly people are excellent.

6- social security

7- employment and training services

8- social housing

9- child care

10- long-term care

11- social assistance services

etc etc 

you can see the attached articles for the social services in European countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Quality_in_Social_Services

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=794

Dear Helena

i would like to sare with you my expirience. I was living and working until now in 3 differnt EU countries. I try to learn more about the differnet social systems working with comperative data. If you have time, you can take a look what i mean in 2 of my papers who they have souch studies

Thank you

Dear Stefanos, 

Yes thank you i am very interested: could you give me the links of your papers, please?

Bewst regards

PS: Here in the RG only very nice persons comunicate with me. i am very lucky...

A long time ago I undertook a comparative study of one segment of the "social services" relating to disability and health policies. The interactive properties of these services were analyzed within a benefit-cost framework. To obtain the necessary information I interviewed scholars, ministry officials, and some politicians. My published results are archived in ResearchGate, Rehabilitating the severely disabled: the foreign experience. J. of Health Politics, Policy, and Law 1979; 4(2): 221-249. Depending on your research questions, I advise focusing on the interactive properties and outputs of a manageable sector of the social services which relate to your questions. Even then, the challenge of mapping policies and sources of data on outputs is daunting! Good luck.

Social services provide assistance and full support to citizens who find themselves in difficult situations. These services relate to municipal, medical, legal, psychological and other aspects of human life. Best of all, these services can be both paid and free. Most often, all that for free, it becomes a low level of service. On the other hand, paid services available to everyone. At present, more and more social services becomes chargeable, excluding countries where populism has not outlived its usefulness. From my point of view, any work or service must be performed by a professional and must be paid (by the state or a citizen).

Dear Helena, thank you for evaluation.

Social progress index, 2015.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Social_Progress_Index 

"The Nordic countries are the best-governed in the world"(capitalism plus socialism)http://www.nnn.se/intro/approach.htm 

Hi Elena,

 i my case it was very helpfull to studing, living and working in different EU countries: With this way i habe learn a lot about the fuction, the differences and the specific charakteristika of the social service systems. Of cource not easy to do, but very important

Hi Stefanos, 

I agree with you. Knowing the way others live and behave help us to a more clear understanding.

Thank you

Helena

German welfare system.I think, it's a very obective presentation.There were 2  different countries till the 90-s.As for my experience, I admire the social services of the UK and Germany- towards children, invalids, old people.I saw the greatest love and attention to these categories of human beings.I think, these human groups all over the world should have either good dotations, or free social services- or both to live a digniful life.It's a care of goverrnment. http://www.powershow.com/view/b0899-NGM4N/The_German_Social_Welfare_System_powerpoint_ppt_presentation

Helena -

Europe is struggling, but it is then that values matter the most. 

Healthcare in Europe and social consciousness in general should be taken by the US as a model, but instead, heavy for-profit privatization of various areas best served by the government are inefficiently and ineffectively controlled by private interests in the US.  The Affordable Care Act had to be greatly convoluted to squeak by in any form, but at least many have been helped.  Why?  The US Social Security System would not likely have been approved now, but because the very demographic that has been brainwashed into fighting social reform is the group now benefitting by Social Security, it is safe.  Though it may need further tweaking, the idea is that people pay into it, and get paid back later, without private interests draining it dry, which is a common problem.  Consider what Senator Tom Harkins has said about for-profit colleges, and the deal the US pharmaceutical 'industry' has, etc. 

For all the economic problems of Europe, the US could learn some social consciousness from Europe.  Unfortunately it seems that the way the euro has been handled, and the worldwide mess made in 2008, led largely by a greedy US financial sector, has hampered Europe in keeping its 'social contract.' 

Best wishes.  I hope that Europe  continues to be an example that the US should try to imitate, and not the other way around.

Thank you - Jim 

Dear Colleagues,

Good Day,

Social platform on Innovative Social Services

 This project is focusing on identifying the future potential of innovative services including the multifaceted activities of different stakeholders as well as the policy frameworks at different levels of governance geared to address the needs of citizens.

European selection of innovative social services

These projects are presented in order to stimulate the debate about innovation in social services. They have been selected in accordance with the criteria framework coming from theoretical approaches. They have been selected principally as examples of innovative ideas in social services, rather than as examples of best practice.

Please, read all about this in the attached link:

http://www.inno-serv.eu/

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”

--- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Dear all, 

In terms of "It may be said that people who give more, get more."sometimes the problem is that the time between the two events is quite apart....and then we could have lots of damages until everything is well. That is the problem!

I really apreciate and thank all the answers, because they are all very interesting for my investigation.

Have a nice time

Helena 

The biggest challenge facing the national economy over the next decade will be the ongoing requirement to simultaneously reduce public spending while improving the UK’s sluggish productivity growth. Rising demand and further reductions of spending will put ever increasing pressures on public services. But an ability to pool funding more effectively at a local level would enable places to wrap funding around people, improve services and potentially realise efficiencies – a 2 per cent efficiency saving across the combined authorities and LEPs would deliver a £4.3 billion saving each year

http://www.centreforcities.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/15-07-06-Mapping-Britains-Public-Finances.pdf

Dear all, 

Thank you again for your wise comments.

Helena

Dear Colleagues,

Good Day,

"Many are attracted to social service - the rewards are immediate, the gratification quick. But if we have social justice, we won't need social service."

                                     -------    Julian Bond

The logic is that when you provide schools or any social service to people, they have no choice. They have to take what you give them, because they don't have the money to pay for schools themselves; that's why you provide schools in the first place.

--- Esther Duflo

What social service are available for immigrants in EU! None of the services for the immigrants outside of EU!

"Only European migrants with jobs lined up should be allowed in to the UK, Theresa May has said, as she blamed Europe's "system of no borders" for the recent migration crisis.

The Home Secretary said the principle of free movement within the EU has allowed jobless citizens to move countries in search of work and benefits, putting pressure on public services and infrastructure.

She added that the events of this summer, which has seen hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees risking their lives to reach Europe, should act as "wake-up call" to EU leaders..."

Q&A: What benefits can EU migrants get?

"The benefits that EU migrants can claim in another EU country vary across the 28-nation bloc, but certain basic rules are enshrined in EU law.

The issue became a hot topic in the UK because in January 2014 the remaining labour market restrictions on citizens of Bulgaria and Romania were removed across the EU..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/08/30/theresa-may-eu-immigration_n_8060570.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25134521

Dr. Jacic,

The situation of EU migrants is dire and will probably grow worse as long as hostilities in the Middle East drive desperate people to seek refuge away from the carnage. Today's New York Times (1 Sept 2015) editorial blames EU policies for aggravating the problem: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/01/opinion/europe-must-reform-its-deadly-asylum-policies.html?emc=edit_ty_20150901&nl=opinion&nlid=46589005&_r=0.

Of course, given how the US treats desperate people illegally crossing its southern border from Mexico, the New York Times rebuke is like the pot calling the kettle black!

These are troubling times for all of us. Political leadership is nowhere in sight. Rhetoric does not suffice. It takes resources and responsible action to solve problems of this magnitude.

First of all, consider the influx of younger population to be a potential benefit to various economies such as Germany who are experiencing an overall negative growth rate and a reduction in the working sector. This can be positive for the long-term economic situation even if it means some short-term expenses related to incorporating healthcare. Second, immigration also means pockets of development where housing and other infrastructure changes can stimulate the economy. Rehabilitate abandoned areas.  I see advertisements all of the time across the EU member states practically giving away abandoned property.  Why not make use of them? Certainly, there will be a greater percentage of those

See ...

Dear Helena! You promptly raised the actual topic. Let us look at just one aspect of this problem. The problem of refugees and social services in developed countries.

1. I think that everybody understands that the problem arose because the problem is a result of many factors.

2. Developed countries have in the past (distant or near) colonized countries on different continents. Formed developed and undeveloped countries. In underdeveloped countries, is particularly acute there are social problems associated with the division of scarce income between "rich" and the "poor". Intensifies the struggle for power. In this struggle unhelpful role played by the developed countries that are arming both opponents. From war suffering citizens. To save lives and the future for their children, citizens of underdeveloped countries "run" from the home country in the developed countries. There are refugees.

3. Thus, increased uncontrolled emigration. Special sizes such emigration gains in areas of the world where armed super-modern weapons people are sowing death and destruction on the type of infestation, which destroys all the fertile crops. By the way, note the fighters of the Islamic State in different ways get weapons manufactured in developed countries. In developed countries migrate to citizens of those countries, which use modern weapons.

4. Now take into account the citizens of developed countries. These citizens of honest labor, and create the future of their country. As always before, the ordinary citizens selflessly trying to help refugees from countries affected by wars. But, those who are arming the killers, passivity in providing charity.

To deliver public services that are basic to human well-being, such as electricity, heating, lighting, health and education, public services are not commercial products and as a result they tend to be heavily dependent on taxpayers money.

Employment in public services should have a public service ethos, a commitment to the community, and while commercial criteria can be used to deliver public services they cannot substitute the public interest goals enshrined in public services.

http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/ceci/publications/ppp.pdf

Dear Krishnam, 

I agree with you and your attached file is very useful.

Thank you very much for that precious contribution

Helena

Dear all, 

i thank you all for your contribution to this question

Have a nice time

Helena

Good afternoon Helena, I hope that my response you serve of helps and this correctly to what you want to know

to address these services applied to Social work promotion intervention action is organized and developed by caseworkers with individuals, groups and communities. Such intervention ir oriented to accompany, help and train to them people in their processes vital for be responsible, to be free of choose and exercise it participation, as well as to facilitate them changes of those situations that pose an obstacle for the development human and the justice social, promoting them resources of the political social, them answers innovative and the creation of resources not conventional based on the solidarity people potential

Hi Ms. Helena Pestana

So far no one could do so. Let life find its own way with all ups and downs, specifically in European countries.

Service landscape maps – a tool for mapping public services

"While journey maps focus on the user's experience, service landscape maps depict the entire government offering in a particular service area. Instead of detailed user research data, it requires knowledge of existing government activities as the main input. Their purpose is to build consensus between different government and public sector organisations and better understand the existing comprehensive service offering.

Service landscape maps were integral to the success of service communities’ work. Recently, the service landscape made by the start of a business community was used as the starting point to improve a whole user journey on GOV.UK. We believe that this tool is vital for any cross-departmental join-up work..."

https://services.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/23/service-landscape-maps-a-tool-for-mapping-public-services/