Social assistance centres, together with special education centres, are the most widespread form of institutionalised social care in Poland. As the population grows older, demand for such care is bound to increase. However, the quality of facilities and the services provided show important discrepancies between Poland and other European countries and are low in a high proportion of institutions in the Lubelskie Voivodeship. Those institutions not meeting the binding legal standards are currently undergoing remedy programmes and were supposed to reach standards by end 2010. However, these are basic standards and do not allow to properly take into account the needs of patients as well as staff.
Lubelskie as one of the poorest Polish regions is characterised by negative demographic trends and a high share of population at retirement age (17%).

The goal of the programme is to enhance the living conditions for residents in social assistance and special education centres in the Lubelskie Voivodeship by increasing the quality of services provided. This will be achieved, on one hand, by improving the infrastructure and equipment of these institutions, and on the other hand by enhancing the professional qualifications of the relevant staff by conducting trainings and education measures.

Residents of social care institutions (elderly and disabled people, children and juveniles in difficult family situations), Staff of care institutions (social workers, nurses, managers)

(i): Reconstructing and modernising infrastructure of social care institutions (component 1); (ii): Purchase of necessary equipment (component 1&3); (iii): Conducting specialised trainings for at least 180 staff of social care institutions (component 2); (iv): Conducting specific trainings for 200 nurses who need to complete their qualifications in accordance with the requirements of the National Health Fund (component 3)

Résultats obtenus:  

Increased quality of care, medical and education services provided to residents in social care units: 

• 562 medical and substantive staff members in social care units and 300 nurses finished trainings
• 94% of employees directly working with residents have increased their qualifications (target is 30%). Among them 41% of nurses
• 60% increase of various forms of activation in social care units in the region (target was set at 5%)
• 11 social care institutions have modernized and/or equipped their premises.
• 16 promotional events, informational and coaching meetings for final beneficiaries organized 

Phase 1 01.07.2011 - 31.05.2016   (Completed)