II Acció Social Congress

The second edition of Inclusió.cat took as its central theme the promotion of personal autonomy and proximity care, ensuring that people with functional limitations receive the necessary care in their own home and within the community.

The event was inaugurated by Jordi Collet (Uvic’s Vice-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer), Nuria Homs (a Vic town councillor) and Chakir El Homrani (the Generalitat of Catalonia’s Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Families).

“Serve more people, earlier and better, preventively and in their home environment. […] The individual at the centre of the whole process”

During the presentation of the Strategic Social Services Plan, Minister el Homrani observed that public policies for people with functional limitations are facing new challenges, such as ane aging population and changes in the public’s expectations regarding the effective exercise of their rights, including that of personal autonomy. In this regard, he commented that the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Families is drawing up a draft document on the future Strategic Plan for Social Services.

The ministry’s main objective is to increase the coverage of social services focused on prevention rather than cure, in an attempt to offer care in the community which allows for personal autonomy. The minister declared that the aim was to “Serve more people, earlier and better, preventively and in their home environment. […] The individual at the centre of the whole process”. You can find previous strategic social services plans here.

Our colleague Ariadna Rius spoke about interoperability in relation to integrated health and social care, specifically as part of the Intersocial project, which is currently entering its second phase.

In a parallel session entitled ‘Instrumental Models for Integrated Care’, three more initiatives were also presented:

• A collaboration between Primary Social and Healthcare Teams in Lloret de Mar -CSMS and Lloret de Mar town council. A project aimed at coordinating services and improving the management of home visits.
• The Ripollès region is focusing on the prevention and integration of care for people in a situation of fragility- Consorci de Benestar Social del Ripollès [The Ripollès Social Services Consortium].
• Osona’s Complex Attention Management Program (PGAC) is a program aimed at people with complex social and healthcare needs. Based on a case management model in an integrated care context with professionals in the social and healthcare sector. The aim of the program is to improve the health and wellbeing of people, tailor social and healthcare services to people’s needs, and thereby improve the care experience for both the patients and the professionals involved. Although only a few users are currently enrolled in the project (n=9) and the data produced is therefore not totally reliable, the program has a promising future and has already reached certain conclusions:
  • It has been well-received by users.
  • There have been improvements in prescriptions and the monitoring of users.
  • “The patients aren’t complex, we are (i.e., the system)”.