The range of recipients of free social services has been expanded in Belarus. This decision is contained in the Resolution of the Council of Ministers dated March 2 of the current year No. 150, as reported to BELTA correspondent by the press service of the Belarusian government.
The range of recipients of free social services has been expanded in Belarus. This decision is contained in the Resolution of the Council of Ministers dated March 2 of the current year No. 150, as reported to BELTA correspondent by the press service of the Belarusian government.
As noted by the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Alexander Rumak, with the aim of developing stationary-substituting forms of social services for disabled persons, aimed at supporting their maximum possible independence in life activities, the categories of citizens who will be provided with support services have been expanded. Thus, support assistant services (in addition to Group I disabled persons with musculoskeletal disorders) will also be provided to Group I visually impaired disabled persons, and assistant services (except for single and living alone Group I disabled persons with intellectual disabilities) will be provided to single and living alone Group II disabled persons with intellectual disabilities. Hourly childcare services for disabled children (nanny services) will be provided until the disabled child reaches the age of 18, instead of 4 years, as it was previously.
The list of free and publicly accessible social services of state social service institutions has been systematised with norms and standards for ensuring citizens with these services (for example, organisation of hot meals at home, cleaning of residential premises, organisation and conduct of classes for the restoration or development of social skills). Approaches to the provision of services in various social service institutions have been unified.
The norms and standards for ensuring citizens with certain social services are established depending on the functional classes characterising the impairment of basic human life criteria. This will allow for the regulation of the volume of social services provided depending on the health status of citizens, the Deputy Minister emphasised.
"The issue of using funds received by state social service institutions from the sale of items made by disabled individuals is very important," said Alexander Rumak. "As you know, social service institutions provide social, medical, social rehabilitation, and socio-pedagogical services in 242 rehabilitation and work therapy workshops and various clubs attended by people with developmental disabilities. Approximately 12,000 people gratuitously produce souvenirs, crafts, and other decorative and applied art items. These items are periodically exhibited at district, city, and national events, attract attention with their originality and high quality of work, and are in demand. In accordance with Resolution No. 150, funds from the sale of such items will be used to purchase necessary equipment and consumables, and will be directed towards the material incentives for the institutions' employees."
Furthermore, the Council of Ministers' resolution regulates the use of funds by territorial social service centres received from payments for social services rendered; these funds will be directed towards developing the material and technical base of these institutions and incentivising the work of their employees.
A revised list of social services provided by state organisations (their structural divisions), the turnover from the sale of which is exempt from value-added tax on the territory of the republic, has been established.
Within two months, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection will make the necessary amendments to the normative legal acts regulating medical indications and contraindications for the provision of social services in social service institutions; approximate staffing standards for employees of territorial social service centres and centres for social services for families and children (social assistance to families and children); and the procedure and conditions for providing social services.
Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 150 "On Amendments and Additions to Resolutions of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of December 27, 2012 No. 1218 and February 19, 2013 No. 117" will come into force three months after its official publication.
News of Belarus (BELTA)