Suchergebnisse

One priority of welfare state is carry out systematic social policy and to provide social services of good quality. Social services depend on economical situation of the state and legislation as well as qualification, competence of employee, who provides these services, and services' quality assurance system. The main actor which determines quality of the services is direct services provider – social worker. It is quit hard to evaluate quality of services, because everyone different understands and evaluates quality of services. Person's indication of evaluation depends on how provided service satisfies his need and expectations. Lithuanian legislation of social policy is orientated into high quality of social services; however evaluation of it is still problematic due to a lack of documentations, identifying quality evaluation strategy of social services provided by social workers. The master thesis, with reference to science literature, analyze social services provision system in Druskininkai Municipality (case analyze) as well as present point of view of social services' organization, provider and recipient evaluating social services on social, territorial and economic backgrounds (experiment). A goal of experiment (research) is to examine opinion of social services' providers and recipients about provided services. Research revealed that social services' organization, provider and recipient positively evaluate quality of social services on social, territorial and economic backgrounds provided in Druskininkai Municipality. Positive evaluation indicates such positions: there is developed network of non-stationary social services; according to the needs of recipients, a supply social services is added with new services; infrastructure of social services' institutions are adapted to the provision of different services; qualification of social workers are high; information about social services is disseminated in different ways; municipality put efforts to make conditions to provide services for those recipients who lives in long way distance; municipality do not waste money for establishment of stationary institutions, but makes efforts to provide as much social services as budget lets. Research revealed and negative aspects: social workers experience big psychological pressure and stress, which influence quality of services; also it was indicated lack of collaboration between nongovernmental and governmental institutions. Recommendations were stated for social services' institutions and municipality.

One priority of welfare state is carry out systematic social policy and to provide social services of good quality. Social services depend on economical situation of the state and legislation as well as qualification, competence of employee, who provides these services, and services' quality assurance system. The main actor which determines quality of the services is direct services provider – social worker. It is quit hard to evaluate quality of services, because everyone different understands and evaluates quality of services. Person's indication of evaluation depends on how provided service satisfies his need and expectations. Lithuanian legislation of social policy is orientated into high quality of social services; however evaluation of it is still problematic due to a lack of documentations, identifying quality evaluation strategy of social services provided by social workers. The master thesis, with reference to science literature, analyze social services provision system in Druskininkai Municipality (case analyze) as well as present point of view of social services' organization, provider and recipient evaluating social services on social, territorial and economic backgrounds (experiment). A goal of experiment (research) is to examine opinion of social services' providers and recipients about provided services. Research revealed that social services' organization, provider and recipient positively evaluate quality of social services on social, territorial and economic backgrounds provided in Druskininkai Municipality. Positive evaluation indicates such positions: there is developed network of non-stationary social services; according to the needs of recipients, a supply social services is added with new services; infrastructure of social services' institutions are adapted to the provision of different services; qualification of social workers are high; information about social services is disseminated in different ways; municipality put efforts to make conditions to provide services for those recipients who lives in long way distance; municipality do not waste money for establishment of stationary institutions, but makes efforts to provide as much social services as budget lets. Research revealed and negative aspects: social workers experience big psychological pressure and stress, which influence quality of services; also it was indicated lack of collaboration between nongovernmental and governmental institutions. Recommendations were stated for social services' institutions and municipality.

Large families faces lots of various problems. Families changing their everyday behavior and values in order to adapt to everyday changes. No matter that, in those families are still strong beliefs in lithuanian traditions. If we want to save that, special government and regional policy focus on it is necessary. But mostly an large family is identified like an social risk family these days. Lots of people think that social risk families are using all the possible benefits, in example, the kids of large families are free of the charges of kindergartens, receiving an free feeding in the schools or receiving sponsorships from the government or other resources. In the result, those large families have enough finances to live everyday life and they are not trying to get a job and become independent ones. That is the reason why in our country the number of families, which cannot take care of themselves without government funding, is increasing. Problematic questions: 1. What kind of factors make an influence to large families become an social risk families? 2. If the social workers providing social facilities satisfy the expectations of large families? Object – large families expectations to the social facilities. The aim of the work – to analyze the expectations of large families to receive an social guarantees. Task in the work: 1. To discuss about the definition of the family, their functions and changes in the evolution of modern society; 2. To identify the problems with which large families confront; 3. To analyze the expectations of the risk group belonging large families about the social facilities and the needs to have it. After researches were made and literature was analyzed, it is possible to make conclusions. It is necessary to make good conditions, especially for large families, and let them function normally. Also it is important to defend families from the critical situations and try to make adaptation to various changes easier. It should be noticed that the main problem with which large family faces is poverty and lack of finances to satisfy the needs of all family members. The large families suffer from condemnatory reaction of society. Moreover, they are often compared with social risk families. Also analyzing the data of the research was noticed that if family participating in non-government organization of large families association activity, it helps to solve lots of problems and to save large families from becoming an social risk family.

Large families faces lots of various problems. Families changing their everyday behavior and values in order to adapt to everyday changes. No matter that, in those families are still strong beliefs in lithuanian traditions. If we want to save that, special government and regional policy focus on it is necessary. But mostly an large family is identified like an social risk family these days. Lots of people think that social risk families are using all the possible benefits, in example, the kids of large families are free of the charges of kindergartens, receiving an free feeding in the schools or receiving sponsorships from the government or other resources. In the result, those large families have enough finances to live everyday life and they are not trying to get a job and become independent ones. That is the reason why in our country the number of families, which cannot take care of themselves without government funding, is increasing. Problematic questions: 1. What kind of factors make an influence to large families become an social risk families? 2. If the social workers providing social facilities satisfy the expectations of large families? Object – large families expectations to the social facilities. The aim of the work – to analyze the expectations of large families to receive an social guarantees. Task in the work: 1. To discuss about the definition of the family, their functions and changes in the evolution of modern society; 2. To identify the problems with which large families confront; 3. To analyze the expectations of the risk group belonging large families about the social facilities and the needs to have it. After researches were made and literature was analyzed, it is possible to make conclusions. It is necessary to make good conditions, especially for large families, and let them function normally. Also it is important to defend families from the critical situations and try to make adaptation to various changes easier. It should be noticed that the main problem with which large family faces is poverty and lack of finances to satisfy the needs of all family members. The large families suffer from condemnatory reaction of society. Moreover, they are often compared with social risk families. Also analyzing the data of the research was noticed that if family participating in non-government organization of large families association activity, it helps to solve lots of problems and to save large families from becoming an social risk family.

Title of Master's Thesis - Administration of Social Services in Utena District Municipality. Due to demographic changes, demand for social services is increasing in the Republic of Lithuania. In 2004, when Lithuania became a member of the European Union (EU), the Lithuanian citizens were able to migrate freely to other EU countries. A large part of Lithuanian citizens, who were tired of poverty and seeking a better quality of life, and a desire to provide their children with a full life and education, left Lithuania. At the same time in Lithuania they left their elderly parents needing assistance and care. On the other hand, significant parts of the working-age population who remain in Lithuania are currently living in poverty and are marginalized. Social problems such as poverty, unemployment, child neglect, social exclusion, lonely elderly, and alcoholism all have a clear impact on the need for social services. Effective management and administration in the social services sector are needed in order to achieve the goals of social services. The aim of the master's thesis is to investigate the obstacles of the Social Services and Health Care Department of the Utena District Municipality Administration, in theory and empirically, after the questionnaire survey of the target group. Social workers and social work specialists of institutions providing social services subordinate to Utena District Municipality were interviewed in order to achieve the aim of the Master's thesis and the set tasks. Master's thesis is prepared on the basis of scientific sources, documents, legal acts, statistics and results of questionnaire survey. The results of the questionnaire survey revealed that the quality of provision of social services is influenced by the procedures of administration of social services, which are manifested through insufficient diversity of social services in Utena District Municipality. The workload for social services professionals is being increased for the same remuneration, as a lack of funds does not allow the creation of new workplaces, the role of communities and inter-institutional cooperation in the delivery of social services are poorly promoted in the administration of social services. Master's thesis consists of introduction, glossary of concepts, theoretical part, research part with research methodology and analysis of research results, conclusions, recommendations, list of used literature, summary (in Lithuanian and English) and appendixes.

Title of Master's Thesis - Administration of Social Services in Utena District Municipality. Due to demographic changes, demand for social services is increasing in the Republic of Lithuania. In 2004, when Lithuania became a member of the European Union (EU), the Lithuanian citizens were able to migrate freely to other EU countries. A large part of Lithuanian citizens, who were tired of poverty and seeking a better quality of life, and a desire to provide their children with a full life and education, left Lithuania. At the same time in Lithuania they left their elderly parents needing assistance and care. On the other hand, significant parts of the working-age population who remain in Lithuania are currently living in poverty and are marginalized. Social problems such as poverty, unemployment, child neglect, social exclusion, lonely elderly, and alcoholism all have a clear impact on the need for social services. Effective management and administration in the social services sector are needed in order to achieve the goals of social services. The aim of the master's thesis is to investigate the obstacles of the Social Services and Health Care Department of the Utena District Municipality Administration, in theory and empirically, after the questionnaire survey of the target group. Social workers and social work specialists of institutions providing social services subordinate to Utena District Municipality were interviewed in order to achieve the aim of the Master's thesis and the set tasks. Master's thesis is prepared on the basis of scientific sources, documents, legal acts, statistics and results of questionnaire survey. The results of the questionnaire survey revealed that the quality of provision of social services is influenced by the procedures of administration of social services, which are manifested through insufficient diversity of social services in Utena District Municipality. The workload for social services professionals is being increased for the same remuneration, as a lack of funds does not allow the creation of new workplaces, the role of communities and inter-institutional cooperation in the delivery of social services are poorly promoted in the administration of social services. Master's thesis consists of introduction, glossary of concepts, theoretical part, research part with research methodology and analysis of research results, conclusions, recommendations, list of used literature, summary (in Lithuanian and English) and appendixes.

The aim of this article is to show transformations of social services (social security, health care, education, social care and social work) in the perspective of welfare pluralism. The analysis shows that the development of social services in Western capitalist countries went through three different stages. In the first stage the major provider of social services was voluntary sector (NGO) and only at the end of eighteenth century public social services were established. The rapid growth and extension of publically provided social services in Western societies started after World War II. This period of social services development is characterized by the tendency to transfer the responsibility for social risks from private to public realm and is called the golden age of the welfare state. Since the end of 1970s the conception of welfare state undergoes sharp critique in Western democratic countries. The article claims that the new type of social services system, radically different from the postwar welfare state, is emerging.

The aim of this article is to show transformations of social services (social security, health care, education, social care and social work) in the perspective of welfare pluralism. The analysis shows that the development of social services in Western capitalist countries went through three different stages. In the first stage the major provider of social services was voluntary sector (NGO) and only at the end of eighteenth century public social services were established. The rapid growth and extension of publically provided social services in Western societies started after World War II. This period of social services development is characterized by the tendency to transfer the responsibility for social risks from private to public realm and is called the golden age of the welfare state. Since the end of 1970s the conception of welfare state undergoes sharp critique in Western democratic countries. The article claims that the new type of social services system, radically different from the postwar welfare state, is emerging.

The aim of this article is to show transformations of social services (social security, health care, education, social care and social work) in the perspective of welfare pluralism. The analysis shows that the development of social services in Western capitalist countries went through three different stages. In the first stage the major provider of social services was voluntary sector (NGO) and only at the end of eighteenth century public social services were established. The rapid growth and extension of publically provided social services in Western societies started after World War II. This period of social services development is characterized by the tendency to transfer the responsibility for social risks from private to public realm and is called the golden age of the welfare state. Since the end of 1970s the conception of welfare state undergoes sharp critique in Western democratic countries. The article claims that the new type of social services system, radically different from the postwar welfare state, is emerging.

The aim of this article is to show transformations of social services (social security, health care, education, social care and social work) in the perspective of welfare pluralism. The analysis shows that the development of social services in Western capitalist countries went through three different stages. In the first stage the major provider of social services was voluntary sector (NGO) and only at the end of eighteenth century public social services were established. The rapid growth and extension of publically provided social services in Western societies started after World War II. This period of social services development is characterized by the tendency to transfer the responsibility for social risks from private to public realm and is called the golden age of the welfare state. Since the end of 1970s the conception of welfare state undergoes sharp critique in Western democratic countries. The article claims that the new type of social services system, radically different from the postwar welfare state, is emerging.

Although Lithuania's accession to the European Union has led to positive changes, the development of the social services sector in Lithuania is still not sufficient to meet the needs of society. Taking into account the main problems: higher demand for social services than supply, rapid aging processes: it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the development of the social services sector in order to solve the most sensitive social problems in Lithuania. For these reasons, the aim of the final work was set - to theoretically and empirically substantiate the development opportunities of the social services sector in Biržai district. To achieve the goal, several different research methods were used: theoretical analysis, document analysis, semi-structured interview, and SWOT analysis. Thus, a qualitative research framework was chosen for the empirical part. The semi-structured interview was conducted by 6 respondents in a variety of positions, ranging from social worker to local politician. The results of the semi-structured interview revealed that currently the development of social services in Biržai district is constantly improving, but it is still characterized by a large number of problem areas: inter-institutional cooperation, social workers' frustrations, poor evaluation of social work, lack of human resources, insufficient services, and insufficiently rapid deinstitutionalisation processes. The SWOT analysis revealed that although the social services sector of Biržai district has a large number of strengths, even more weaknesses have emerged. For this reason, there is a particularly high risk of threats to the development of the social services sector in Biržai district, which is further exacerbated by the situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, after eliminating the weaknesses, the social services sector of Biržai district has wide opportunities, which can have a very positive impact on the development of the sector and contribute to the overall growth of the Lithuanian social services sector. Therefore, it can be concluded that the potential to improve and accelerate the development of the social services sector in Biržai district is still not used.

Although Lithuania's accession to the European Union has led to positive changes, the development of the social services sector in Lithuania is still not sufficient to meet the needs of society. Taking into account the main problems: higher demand for social services than supply, rapid aging processes: it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the development of the social services sector in order to solve the most sensitive social problems in Lithuania. For these reasons, the aim of the final work was set - to theoretically and empirically substantiate the development opportunities of the social services sector in Biržai district. To achieve the goal, several different research methods were used: theoretical analysis, document analysis, semi-structured interview, and SWOT analysis. Thus, a qualitative research framework was chosen for the empirical part. The semi-structured interview was conducted by 6 respondents in a variety of positions, ranging from social worker to local politician. The results of the semi-structured interview revealed that currently the development of social services in Biržai district is constantly improving, but it is still characterized by a large number of problem areas: inter-institutional cooperation, social workers' frustrations, poor evaluation of social work, lack of human resources, insufficient services, and insufficiently rapid deinstitutionalisation processes. The SWOT analysis revealed that although the social services sector of Biržai district has a large number of strengths, even more weaknesses have emerged. For this reason, there is a particularly high risk of threats to the development of the social services sector in Biržai district, which is further exacerbated by the situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, after eliminating the weaknesses, the social services sector of Biržai district has wide opportunities, which can have a very positive impact on the development of the sector and contribute to the overall growth of the Lithuanian social services sector. Therefore, it can be concluded that the potential to improve and accelerate the development of the social services sector in Biržai district is still not used.

The master 's thesis analyses the management of volunteers' involvement in the provision of social services in the municipality. The aim of the present master 's thesis is to develop guidelines for municipalities on how to increase the involvement of volunteers in solving social problems in the municipality by studying the theoretical and practical aspects of volunteering as a public management innovation and the theoretical basis of the involvement of volunteers as additional human resources in providing social services in the municipality. The results of the research are presented in three parts: theoretical, research methodology and empirical. In the theoretical part, based on the latest scientific literature and strategic EU documents, the aim was to substantiate the management of volunteers' involvement in the provision of social services in municipalities as social innovation management, because in the absence of proven models for managing volunteer involvement, internal measures had to be sought in organisations. Treating volunteers in the master 's thesis as human resources that have not yet been sufficiently evaluated in municipalities, the concepts of volunteering, its benefits and involvement of individuals in the provision of services are deepened. The analysis of good practices from other countries summarises the measures to help national and local authorities increase the involvement of volunteers in solving social problems. The research methodology is based on a qualitative research strategy. Written survey and document analysis methods were used for data collection. In the written survey, by informing Tauragė District and Šilalė District municipal employees, a standardised questionnaire was used, which was prepared on the basis of the insights of the theoretical part, the best experiences of other European countries and the volunteering activation measures planned by the government of the Republic of Lithuania. The analysis of the documents of the Republic of Lithuania and the analysed municipalities presented in the empirical part showed that the legal regulation of volunteering is not extensive. Volunteers are involved in the provision of social services through projects funded by the EU Structural Funds. In municipalities, volunteering is regulated by orders approved by the council and the director of the administration. Volunteering in municipalities is implemented through youth employment, NGO and community programs. The analysis of the material received from the informants in municipalities showed that the position of politicians and administration supporting volunteering was observed in the analysed municipalities, it was formalised in strategic and operational documents approved by the municipal council and administrative director, created in positions, financial support to NGO. Volunteers in municipalities are involved by publicising, informing about, consulting about and supporting opportunities for volunteering. Increasing the involvement of volunteers by creating clearer activity administration mechanisms in municipalities confirms that volunteers are not yet perceived as a potential in the provision of social services, that municipalities lack the experience to involve volunteers.

The master 's thesis analyses the management of volunteers' involvement in the provision of social services in the municipality. The aim of the present master 's thesis is to develop guidelines for municipalities on how to increase the involvement of volunteers in solving social problems in the municipality by studying the theoretical and practical aspects of volunteering as a public management innovation and the theoretical basis of the involvement of volunteers as additional human resources in providing social services in the municipality. The results of the research are presented in three parts: theoretical, research methodology and empirical. In the theoretical part, based on the latest scientific literature and strategic EU documents, the aim was to substantiate the management of volunteers' involvement in the provision of social services in municipalities as social innovation management, because in the absence of proven models for managing volunteer involvement, internal measures had to be sought in organisations. Treating volunteers in the master 's thesis as human resources that have not yet been sufficiently evaluated in municipalities, the concepts of volunteering, its benefits and involvement of individuals in the provision of services are deepened. The analysis of good practices from other countries summarises the measures to help national and local authorities increase the involvement of volunteers in solving social problems. The research methodology is based on a qualitative research strategy. Written survey and document analysis methods were used for data collection. In the written survey, by informing Tauragė District and Šilalė District municipal employees, a standardised questionnaire was used, which was prepared on the basis of the insights of the theoretical part, the best experiences of other European countries and the volunteering activation measures planned by the government of the Republic of Lithuania. The analysis of the documents of the Republic of Lithuania and the analysed municipalities presented in the empirical part showed that the legal regulation of volunteering is not extensive. Volunteers are involved in the provision of social services through projects funded by the EU Structural Funds. In municipalities, volunteering is regulated by orders approved by the council and the director of the administration. Volunteering in municipalities is implemented through youth employment, NGO and community programs. The analysis of the material received from the informants in municipalities showed that the position of politicians and administration supporting volunteering was observed in the analysed municipalities, it was formalised in strategic and operational documents approved by the municipal council and administrative director, created in positions, financial support to NGO. Volunteers in municipalities are involved by publicising, informing about, consulting about and supporting opportunities for volunteering. Increasing the involvement of volunteers by creating clearer activity administration mechanisms in municipalities confirms that volunteers are not yet perceived as a potential in the provision of social services, that municipalities lack the experience to involve volunteers.

Help provided by Child Day Care Centers is one of the alternative ways to help solve the problems of families and their children which are in social risk groups. The rapid growth of the social services provided by Children Day Care Centers and the expansion of the service is attracting more attention to the quality of the service provided by those centres. Child Day Care Centers are given a substantial financial support from the State Budget, the tax payer's money. The client's right to a good quality service must be ensured. The purpose of this work is to unfold the possibilities of the service quality expansion at Child Day Care Centers. Surveying and assessing the means for the quality development and their problematic aspects shall be done as well as providing the possible ways of their solving. Analysing the theoretical conception of Child Day Care Centers social service quality and interviewing four experts (a practician who works at the social service sphere of Child Day Care Centers; a specialist who administrates such services; a politician who works out the politics of Child Day Care Centers' social services and an academic who analyses this field) disclosed were the problems of Child Day Care Centers social service quality development and the possible alternative possibilities offered. The main condition for making Child Day Care Centers social service quality better is a change of the public point of view towards the importance of Child Day Care Centers. A unanimous conception of Child Day Care Centers as being serious, qualified, complex help for a child and the family should rise. One of the most important conditions of making Child Day Care Centers service effective is to prepare qualified and competent emploees. The cooperation among institutions should be stimulated, social service net strengthened. There is to be a clear distribution of duties and responsibilities among institutions working to help the children from social risk groups. The analysis of legislation outlining Child Day Care Centers' work shows that a lot of attention is paid to the qualitiy of social service, but so far many laws have not been adopted yet, they are not clear and often just make the work of specialists and the ones who administrate social services more difficult. A system of a social service quality standartization could be one of the specifications which help to ensure service quality. For government institutions the quantity of Child Day Care Center matters more than its quality, that is why there is a risk for the amount of cheap but not qualitative servicies to emerge and grow. It is important for the government institutions to pay their attention to the importance of Child Day Care Centers service quality development, to stimulate municipal institutions and local officies to help Child Day Care Centers. More powers for supervision and development of Child Day Care Centers should be delegated to them.