Analysis of the initial period of diagnosing the needs and potential of the local government community in the field of planning social services

Abstract

The Social Services Centre (SSC) as a unit created optionally by local government authorities is becoming one of the new organizational forms of social services that go beyond the scope of social assistance. The main tasks of the social services centre include the coordination of social services provided by specific entities in a given area. For this purpose, it is particularly important to program social services or plan the organization of the local community. However, to make it possible, communes should fulfil their obligation to diagnose the needs and potential of the local government community in the field of social services, as one of the main pillars of the SSC activity. A properly made diagnosis is the basis for planning, taking actions and estimating their costs. The aim of the article is to analyse the activities undertaken by social services centres in Poland as part of the preparation and development of a diagnosis.