Since July 1st, Vilafranca del Penedès has welcomed two new social integration professionals within the Social Rights and Elderly department. This initiative aims to optimize and expedite the support provided to individuals seeking basic social services, thereby modernizing citizen assistance.
These new integrators are responsible for the initial screening and guidance of incoming requests. Their role complements administrative staff by ensuring each person is directed to the most suitable resource or professional for their specific situation from the outset.
“"With this measure, the council aims to provide a more agile and personalized response to the increasing demand for social support, while simultaneously improving municipal care pathways."
This new structure will also help reduce waiting times and enable quicker identification of potential vulnerability or specialized care needs. The integrators' duties include initial needs assessment, evaluating the person's or family's situation and urgency level, referral to relevant services (dependency, elderly, family, child welfare), and providing information on procedures, requirements, and necessary documentation.
The introduction of this specialized professional perspective allows for better identification of individual case needs and facilitates smoother referrals. It also frees up the schedules of social workers and educators, enabling them to focus on more complex interventions.
Both new professionals hold a Higher Technician title in Social Integration. Councillor Ramon Zaballa emphasized that these additions "reaffirm the City Council's commitment to strengthening the public social protection system, adapting professional structures to the evolving realities of the town."
