Social Services

It refers to social activities to meet social needs in the form of providing labor services. Social services in a narrow sense refer to the services provided directly to improve and develop the welfare of the social members, such as life welfare services in the aspects of clothing, food, housing, transportation, and use. Social services in a broad sense include life welfare services, productive services and social services. Productive services refer to services directly provided for material production, such as raw material transportation, energy supply, information transfer, scientific and technological consulting, and labor force training, etc.

Social services refer to the services provided for the normal operation and coordinated development of the entire society, such as public utilities, cultural, educational and health undertakings, social security and social management, etc. Social services can be divided into material and spiritual services according to the nature of services; and they can be divided into basic services, developmental services and enjoyment services according to the degree of services. Since the Reform and Opening-up, in the process of rapid economic development, the weaknesses of incomplete items and limited contents of social services have gradually been exposed, unable to meet the needs of the majority of special groups. To this end, the “Guiding Opinions of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance on Government Purchase of Social Work Services” was formulated in 2012, which was the first public policy on social services.

The main characteristics of social services include: Firstly, non-cash payment (relief). Different from social insurance, social services mainly refer to labor services, which are not covered by income security and no in-kind distribution is made.

Secondly, mainly target at the needy, marginal, vulnerable and problem groups, including the elderly, children and adolescents, the disabled, victims, new immigrants, mental patients, crime victims, severely ill patients, mentally handicapped people, vagrants and beggars and the homeless, alcohol and drug abusers, single mothers, pregnant and lactating mothers, drug users, HIV carriers, bankrupts, people with violent and suicidal tendencies, domestic abusers, criminals and parole prisoners, and prisoners released, etc.Thirdly, personal services for individuals. They are humanized, personalized and differentiated services, which care about various special difficulties, problems and crises encountered in different stages of life, and are provided to individuals in specific situations and with specific needs. Fourthly, mainly adopt three supply modes: direct government supply, independent supply by non-profit organizations, and outsourcing (purchase) form of cooperation between the government and non-profit organizations. Fifthly, not for profit, provided mainly for free or recover part of the cost. They are non-reimbursable or low-paying. The purpose of the services is to meet the basic needs of the target (including material and spiritual needs), improve the living conditions of special populations, rebuild their survivability, resist the impact of social risks, and reduce or alleviate social conflicts. Sixthly, the services are mainly provided by professional social workers and volunteers, as well as nursing staff, domestic workers, teachers, and doctors, etc. The services are mainly provided in the community, beneficiaries' homes and special social service facilities. Seventhly, service methods include family help, care for others, rehabilitation treatment, psychological counseling, education and training, counseling and guidance, behavior modification, and mutual aid support, etc. Social services have caring, soothing, therapeutic, and preventive effects. Through social services, alleviate the social pressure of the targets, change their behaviors, improve their social adaptability, enable them to better improve their personal personality, tap their potential, overcome welfare dependence, get rid of the disadvantaged position, shake off chronic diseases and step on the path towards independence, integration and health.