Social Services must proactively reach people who need help

Almannaverkið, the public welfare authority, must also proactively contact people facing serious social problems who need help but are unable to ask for it themselves, Kringvarp Føroya reported. The clarification was given by Social Affairs Minister Margit Stórá in response to a question from MP Fía Selma Nielsen about timely assistance for people with mental illness.

Almannaverkið has a duty to provide guidance and to direct people to assistance available from other authorities and self-governing institutions. As a general rule, however, authorities cannot force people to accept social assistance, Stórá said.

Cooperation needs to improve

Cooperation between the social services, healthcare system and municipalities must be strengthened continuously to ensure that each authority understands and takes responsibility for its role, the minister said.

Under the legislation on home care and elderly care, municipalities must ensure that people who need personal assistance, care and support receive the necessary help.

This may also include a municipality contacting people with mental illness who need help but are unable to take the first step themselves, Stórá said.