Design and use of the data base on social services for families and

children: regulatory purposes and case follow up

Mr. Muhamet Gjocaj

Head of the Department for Social Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social

Welfare/Kosovo

Mr. Bajram Kelmendi

Head of the Social Services Division, Ministry of Labour and social

Welfare/Kosovo

The social welfare system in Kosovo

• The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW) responsible for social welfare in Kosovo

• Social protection policies for children are implemented by Centres for Social Work (CSW) in each Municipality in Kosovo (31)

• CSWs are responsible for two sectors: Social Assistance for poor families and all forms of social services for the needy population

• In each Municipality there are Directorates for Health and Social Welfare which have limited responsibilities.

• MLSW supported by DFID has drafted the strategy for decentralisation of social services.

The mandate of the CSWs:

• Institutional pillars for social service provision within the Kosovo social services system.

• The Law on Social and Family Services.

• One social worker per approximately 10, 000 citizens.

• Cooperate with NGOs, Courts, Police, Probation service, at local level.

• Need for a sustainable, efficient system for registration and follow up on individual clients.

• Need for better data gathering system and analysis for evidence based policy making.

• To assist the MLSW in monitoring the quality of social services.

Why a data base?

The objectives of the data base

• Improve the data on clients and services.

• Improve the monitoring system and data analysis at the central level (MLSW/DSW)

• To analyse trends on certain social issues.

• To better monitor the workload of the CSWs

• Better implementation of laws, regulations and standards.

• At the central level, the DSW has access to all data bases available at the CSWs.

• At the municipal level, the CSW gathers and maintains data on their clients and regularly updates the central level (monthly reports)

The data base is organised at two levels – CSWs and MLSW

The data base offers information on:

• The number of clients • The type of services provided• Breakdown of clients and services by

Municipality• Specific information for the client on,i.e:

age, sex, ethnic background, etc. • Information on all stakeholders related to

the case. • Information on case management process.

Challenges

• Budget allocation for the sustainable maintenance of the data base.

• Decentralisation of social services.• Lack of compatibility of the data base with

other data bases in the MLSW and other relevant Ministries.

• Lack of capacities to analyse and use the available statistics to inform policy development.

Evaluation findings

• A modern well-structured information system contributes to social service improvement.

• The data base proceeded the adoption of a regulatory framework.

• A potential monitoring system on performance of social services against policy objectives.

• A shift in approach to child protection: from strictly legal oriented towards preventive one.