Social activation service for families with children - Olomouc region
The page concerns a project successfully implemented in 2015. For current professional social counseling of the Olomouc branch of Romodrom, visit this page. If you are interested in the current offer of social activation services for families with children, go here. Social activation service for families with children - Olomouc region is a registered service according to § 65 of the Social Services Act 108/2006 Coll.
Target group
- Families with children aged three and above, who are at risk of social exclusion and the occurrence of socially pathological phenomena (unemployment, truancy, indebtedness), living in an environment influencing and deepening this exclusion.
- A condition for receiving the service is a willingness to actively participate in changing the current situation.
These are in particular the following groups of fellow citizens:
- Children and youth aged 6 to 26 at risk of socially undesirable phenomena,
- People in crisis,
- People living in socially excluded communities,
- People leading a risky lifestyle or at risk of such a lifestyle,
- Families with a child/children,
- Ethnic minorities.
Whom we cannot or are unable to help:
- Individuals who refuse our services,
- Users who do not want to address their problems,
- We cannot help if the applicant requests a social service that the field program does not provide and is not registered, or the applicant is not our target group. At this point, we refer the contact to a related service.
Meeting with a service seeker:
The worker offers a service and subsequently provides it in the natural environment of the potential service seeker. Potential seekers are offered a leaflet that introduces basic information about the help options.
A potential service seeker is a person who falls into the target group and, according to the worker's judgment, may be facing problems in which the social activation service could be helpful.
The worker explains to the potential service seeker what his help options entail (housing, communication with authorities, assistance with social benefits claims, employment opportunities, debts and executions, communication with law enforcement agencies, educational facilities, child welfare authorities). The offer is presented to seekers understandably, considering their individuality and the specifics of the target group.
Information about the service can also be provided in writing, and the seeker may decide to enter the service at future meetings.
A service seeker is a person who is roughly informed about what the social activation service offers. They show interest in becoming a service user. After the oral contract or written agreement is concluded, the seeker becomes a service user.
When introducing the service to the seeker, any discrimination based on health status, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, economic background, etc., is unacceptable.
The only criterion is the assessment of the actual needs of the user with the provider's capabilities in accordance with Act No. 108/2006 Coll., on social services.
When dealing with a service seeker, we apply these principles:
- create a calm and pleasant environment,
- friendly, kind, and pleasant behavior of the authorized worker,
- building trust,
- enough time to listen to the service seeker,
- assessment of the compatibility of the service offer and the seeker's needs,
- enough time for decision-making for both parties.
Detailed description of service implementation:
Social activation service is based on the needs and desires of users. We monitor excluded areas and plan targeted assistance tailored to individual user needs. Through gradual basic social counseling, we give users the opportunity to manage their problem independently.
Through social activation service, we aim to minimize the possibility of their social exclusion. We help them assert their own will in resolving their unfavorable social situation. We strive to help users break free from seemingly unsolvable problems and address their social situation gradually, comprehensively, and with the aim of making a change - breaking free from a life crisis, integrating into society, and succeeding in the job market.
We aim to achieve this through conversation, advice, administrative tasks, negotiations with authorities, or accompanying them to meetings or providing legal advice.
The service is provided in the Prostějov region:
- in the field, in users' households,
- ambulatory, at the office located at: Vápenice 31, Prostějov.
Most of the work takes place in the field, in the natural environment of the user. We travel to villages and towns in the Prostějov region, including Hradčany, Dobromilice, Nezamyslice, Dřevnovice.
If needed (user's request requires gathering additional information or drafting requests or proposals), an office is available. The office provides access to a computer with internet connection.
Work with users is conducted every working day from Monday to Thursday. Friday is reserved for administrative tasks - operational and casuistic consultations, work on client documentation.
When working with a user, the worker always strives to:
- understand the environment in which the family lives well,
- work with consideration for the specific conditions in these families,
- understand the causes of the unfavorable situation,
- address the social situation comprehensively as a set of related causes and consequences,
- seek solutions that will lead to the client's independence.
Handling complaints:
Complaints are understood as non-anonymous or anonymous submissions expressing disagreement or dissatisfaction with:
a) the quality or scope of the provided social service
b) the approach and behavior of individual employees towards the public or users of the social service
Procedure for handling:
a) Complaints will be investigated and the outcome communicated to the complainant no later than 30 days from the date of submission. If handling the complaint is challenging to the extent that the recipient is unable to resolve it within 30 days, the complainant must be informed of this fact and provided with an alternative deadline by when and by whom the complaint will be resolved (but no later than an additional 30 days).
b) The result of the complaint investigation will always be communicated to the complainant in writing:
- sent by mail or email,
- personally delivered to the complainant from the service users (in the case of non-anonymous submissions),
- in the case of an anonymous legitimate submission, posted on a notice board at the service location (if the complaint is evaluated as unjustified, this fact will be posted on the notice board),
c) Complaints evaluated as unjustified are recorded in the complaints register, detailing how the employees reached this conclusion.
d) The handling of complaints is subject to the Personal Data Protection Act – they are treated as confidential material. They are stored in locked areas designated for this purpose.
e) If a user of the social service is not satisfied with the handling of the complaint, they have the right to appeal to the superior authority of the person who handled the complaint.
Termination of service:
A user may terminate cooperation with the provider of the social service at any time, even without stating a reason. Termination of cooperation by the provider can only occur based on a serious violation of the cooperation rules by the user of the social service (such as disciplinary exclusion of the user, for example, if the user physically attacks an employee). Termination of cooperation between the contracting parties occurs when the user of the social service interrupts contact or when the contracted service specified in the individual plan is fulfilled (and the user does not request further services).
Payment for the service:
- The service is provided free of charge.
Additional information:
Service principles:
The service is provided based on quality standards, in accordance with the legal norms of the Czech Republic and the Ethical Code of Social Workers of the Czech Republic.
When providing the service, we adhere to these principles:
- Free of charge - the service is always provided free of charge under all circumstances,
- Equal access - we respect the uniqueness of each individual regardless of their origin, ethnic affiliation, race or skin color, mother tongue, age, gender, marital status, health status, sexual orientation, economic situation, religious beliefs. We ensure the preservation of the human dignity of our users,
- Discretion and the possibility to remain anonymous - we strictly protect the user's privacy in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 101/2000 Coll. Service workers are bound by confidentiality,
- Support for independence - we respect the user's free will and their right to make decisions about their life,
- User satisfaction - the user has the right to exchange the key worker, the right to complain, and can terminate cooperation at any time without giving reasons,
- Professionalism - the service is provided by workers authorized under the Social Services Act (Act No. 108/2006 Coll., §111 and §116), who undergo regular training and participate in supervision.
Optional services:
Optional services are specifically focused on utilizing children's free time. We emphasize the need for education. The key moments are leisure activities that reflect areas of sports, entertainment, games, and knowledge. For these activities, we use spaces in the municipalities where we operate (such as classrooms, football fields, playgrounds, parks, social spaces). Family members are always invited to these activities, significantly helping with event organization and contributing to its smooth running. We organize these events not only for users of our service - we always try to involve other residents of the municipalities. In this way, we contribute to the integration of our users and to improving neighborly relations in the community. The mayors of the municipalities are accommodating to us, ensuring sufficient promotion through municipal radio and placement of our leaflets on municipal notice boards.
One of the biggest events we organize in the villages where we operate is the children's triathlon. In cooperation with the leading Czech triathlete Mr. Tomáš Slavata, this year will see the third edition. The municipalities where the event is held change every year.
In cooperation with the municipal authorities, we have utilized the offered spaces of sports facilities and playgrounds to organize summer children's Olympics, afternoon games, and skills competitions.
Among the most popular activities for children that we have organized in previous years were trips:
- a two-day trip to Prague combined with a visit to the Petřín Lookout Tower, the Aquapalace in Holešovice, the courtyard of Prague Castle, and Charles Bridge,
- a trip to Velký Kosíř with a climb to the new lookout tower,
- a trip along the former railway line in Nezamyslice,
- a visit to the town hall tower in Prostějov, combined with a tour of the Art Nouveau spaces of the tower.
Many other activities are organized in cooperation with the Dobromilice Elementary School, Nezamyslice Elementary School, and the preschool education center in Hradčany. These include events such as children's day, St. Nicholas Day, Christmas performances, workshops related to making Advent wreaths and gifts for family members.
Spaces, material and technical equipment:
Barrier-free office located at the address: Vápenice 31, 796 01 Prostějov.
The office space provides clients with a notebook with internet connection and a laser printer. Additionally, each employee has a notebook or desktop PC and a company mobile phone. The office is equipped with work desks, a conference table, office chairs, a large conference table, educational and didactic aids for children, board games, and toys for younger children.
A kettle and a restroom with a sink are available for the needs of users and employees.