The Council as a key expert voice in developing the social welfare system

The Social Welfare Council is an advisory body on social welfare matters operating under the Minister competent for social security in operation since 1991.

The Council comprises representatives of social welfare organisations, local government bodies, governors of voivodships, social and professional organisations, churches and other religious groups, as well as the academic community, enabling it to set strategic directions and design solutions addressing changing social needs.

The scope of the Council’s competence includes:

• issuing opinions on draft legislation and initiating amendments to the regulations in the scope of social welfare,
• preparing expert reports on selected areas of social welfare,
• providing the Minister with regular updates on its activities,
• receiving and assessing, on behalf of the Minister, applications for special awards for outstanding achievements in the field of social welfare.

Meetings

During the term of office, 13 Council meetings were held. The meetings provided a forum for sharing experience and discussing the real needs of people facing difficult living conditions, as well as the need for changes within the social welfare workforce.

Establishment of working groups within the Social Welfare Council

Team for Social Services

Team for Social Professions

Team for the operation of Social Welfare Institutions and 24-hour care facilities

Team for the Assessment of Applications for Special Awards of the Minister for Family, Labour and Social Policy

Three years of the Social Welfare Council’s work have focused on lengthy substantive discussions and analyses concerning social services, social professions, as well as the operation of social welfare institutions and 24-hour care facilities.

Legislative and consultation processes

During its term of office, the Social Welfare Council played an active role in providing opinions on and consulting on draft acts of law and strategic documents. The scope of the documents consulted included, in particular:

1. draft regulations concerning, among other things, the empowerment of foster care wards, the operation of social welfare institutions, training and supported housing, family-based care homes, supervision and inspection in social welfare, as well as standards of facilities for people experiencing homelessness;
2. draft legislation, including the amendments to the Act on the Provision of Social Services by Social Service Centres;
3. policy documents, including the Government Programme on Counteracting Domestic Violence for 2024–2030.

Resolutions

During its term of office, the Council adopted resolutions relating to key areas of the social welfare system, including in particular:

1. on the introduction of changes concerning the mandatory establishment of Social Service Centres;
2.  on the annual review of income criteria in social welfare;
3.  on the establishment of a team for assessment of applications for the Minister’s special awards.