Social Services Classification in South Africa: Lessons for Modernizing the Ukrainian System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25128/2520-6230.25.1.7Keywords:
social services classification , South Africa, social support, social services reform, matrix approach, social workAbstract
The Social Services Classifier (2020), developed to comply with Ukrainian legislation, requires modernization due to challenges in implementation and practical application. Therefore, it is timely to study the experience of other countries that have successfully undergone social services reforms in the context of a complex socio-economic situation. The aim of this desk-based analysis was to investigate the social services classification system in South Africa and identify the key approaches to structuring social services in this country.
The article examines the political documents regulating social services in South Africa and identifies key principles such as partnerships between governmental and non-governmental organizations. It is determined that the conceptual approaches to providing social services, outlined in the "Framework for Social Services" document (2013), are based on a developmental approach and promote collaboration among various stakeholders. The document outlines the levels, scope, and contexts for the provision of social services, setting approaches for ensuring their quality, standardization, monitoring, and evaluation.
The South African document has a non-imperative and matrix-based structure. It contains four main categories for structuring social services: (1) Services (technological aspect) – defining the types of social services and methods of delivery; (2) Levels – the degree of intervention intensity (prevention, early intervention, mandatory intervention, reintegration, and follow-up care); (3) Life cycle – aligning services with the stages of life of recipients (childhood, youth, adulthood, senior age); (4) Sphere of influence – key aspects of social functioning targeted by interventions (in the context of social integration, poverty alleviation, protection of vulnerable groups, and support for citizens experiencing difficulties).
The study of South Africa's experience allows for recommendations for adapting specific principles and approaches for the modernization of the Ukrainian social services system.
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