The objective of the reform is to improve the provision of social services, including long-term care, in Bulgaria, in accordance with the Common European Guidelines on the transition from institutional to community-based care, the European Strategy of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in particular the principles of freedom of choice and independent living. The reform shall encompass the adoption of a National Map of Social Services, which shall be developed on the basis of an analysis of the social services offer and needs at municipal and regional level. It shall also encompass a new Ordinance on the Quality of Social Services, which shall be developed with relevant social partners and shall cover: the minimum quality standards of the facilities providing social services; the minimum requirements for the modernisation of facilities providing social services; the requirements concerning the qualifications of the personnel providing social services; as well as indicators to monitor the performance and quality of the provision of social services. It shall also determine the maximum number of users per facility providing social services. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
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