Perspective of counselling in social services: the case of Republic of North Macedonia

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the need of counselling in social services in the Republic of North Macedonia. Specifically, the research aims at assessing any important differences in the size of the particular counselling need across settlement type (rural/urban) and regions. The following basic social services are considered: counselling for working age inactive poor, debt counselling and day care for children and elderly. The main source of information is the SILC survey of 2016, which provides data on a large representative sample of Macedonian households. Based on the findings the paper presents some recommendations related to the government services implying to improvements of the current social services provided. In other words, the government should promote: 1) less formal types of institutions to provide childcare; 2) the expansion of early childhood development centres that offer parental advice as well as part-time childcare.