Simona Bucura-Oprescu, Ministry of Labor, announces a series of new measures, which will be implemented thanks to directives targeting the social services field at national level, through the order prepared for adoption, which establishes a single framework for social service contracts, for information and reports sent to public social assistance services, as well as the procedure for substantiating the necessary budget and indicators for monitoring these services.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu announces that the order provides for the approval of the framework model of the social services contract, concluded between social service providers and beneficiaries or, as the case may be, their legal representatives. This model, provided for in Annex No. 1 to the order, must be adopted by all social service providers, who will approve the format and content of their contract based on this framework, while respecting the minimum quality standards and the applicable special legislation.
In this way, the authorities aim to ensure uniformity and transparency in the conclusion of contracts, thus facilitating the evaluation and monitoring of the services provided. In addition to the framework model for contracts, the order also approves an information model, which will be transmitted by the social service provider to the public social assistance service in the administrative-territorial area in which the beneficiary has his/her domicile or residence.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu also states that this information model, provided in Annex No. 2, includes details about the conclusion of social service contracts, the status of the implementation of the service plan and the removal of completed cases from the register.
In the case of social services managed by the public social assistance service, the responsibility for transmitting this information lies with the management of the service, designated by the organization and functioning regulations approved by decision of the local or county council.
Another important aspect of the order is the approval of the procedure for substantiating the budget necessary to finance social services provided as a social assistance measure.
This procedure, detailed in Annex No. 3, takes into account the monitoring of services provided by the public social assistance service, based on information regarding the conclusion of contracts and reports on the status of implementation of the service plan.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu also mentions that the indicators for monitoring social services, provided in Annex No. 4, are also approved, and Annexes 1-4 are an integral part of this order.
In order to facilitate an efficient transition to the new regulations, the contracting parties will have until December 31, 2025, to modify and supplement, as appropriate, contracts for the provision of social services in progress at the time the order enters into force.
The modifications will be made in accordance with the provisions of the framework model in Annex No. 1, while respecting the minimum quality standards and the applicable special laws. In addition, for social service contracts concluded with beneficiaries subject to restructuring, as well as for the information and reports submitted by service providers, the operating license will be replaced, by the same date, with the number of the approval granted on the restructuring plan.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu also confirms that on the date of entry into force of this order, Order of the Minister of Labor, Social Solidarity and Family No. 73 of February 17, 2005, which approved the model of the Contract for the provision of social services concluded by accredited providers, and Order No. 71 of February 17, 2005, regarding the model of the contract concluded by public social assistance services with social service providers, are also repealed.
These repeal measures are justified by the need to modernize the regulatory framework, adapted to the current context and the real needs of beneficiaries. The new order represents an ambitious initiative aimed at increasing efficiency and transparency in the provision of social services, contributing to better management of public resources and improving the quality of assistance provided to vulnerable people.
The authorities hope that the implementation of these regulations will lead to close collaboration between providers, beneficiaries and public social assistance services, thus ensuring a more robust and better organized social protection system.
