Early this year, former chief auditor Elita Krumina started work as the head of Jelgava social affairs department. She said that employees of the department did not have much time to switch their focus from solving Covid-19 issues to providing support to refugees from Ukraine. The new social affairs department chairwoman plans to analyze social environment in Jelgava and develop the institution’s strategy. Even though the department still has to work on changes, Krumina said that the institution should provide all services irrespective of its capacity.

Considering your experience in the position of the chief auditor, have you managed to get acquainted with the work load at Jelgava social affairs department, its efficiency, and prepare a plan for the future?

I started work at Jelgava social affairs department in early January. It was at a very busy time because first Covid-19 issues had to be solved, and it had to be done very actively because the department works directly with clients, and it had to be done even though every month about 34 percent of employees were ill. Services had to be provided.

As soon as Covid-19 problems subsided slightly, issues related with social benefits to Ukrainian refugees emerged. There was no time for a run up.

Despite all that, I have started getting acquainted with the whole team, each structural unit, tasks. Speaking about tasks I have planned, one of them is development of a strategic vision in relation to service provision and further development of the institution.

Speaking about further development of social services, we plan to conduct a detailed study of Jelgava social environment where we will analyze residents’ structure in great detail, focusing on 12 target groups that have been identified as vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion risks. Those include persons with disabilities, families with many children, single pensioners and other groups. Why is it important? Because only after we have analyzed these groups, we can start assessing whether the existing measures and services are precisely targeted. We would also like to hear from representatives of these groups about what they need most. As a result of this process, a well-founded further development plan would be prepared.

A second bloc I have started to think about and what is very important in further development of Jelgava social affairs department. I was positively surprised when I joined the department. It had a quality management system. It is clear, however, that all institutions should continue development. Our plan is to work on the development strategy for Jelgava social affairs department because only an institution that is strong itself can help others. Our plan provides for development of personnel policy plan, communication, development project plans.

Before the strategy is ready, we have started to work on some initial projects. For example, we have started thinking about further development of IT systems in the institutions. I think that it is important that we obtain statistical information in an automated way that eases our work. There are also ideas about improvement of circulation of documents, accounting.

Could these changes mean also any structural changes in the administration, staff?

Of course, all changes should be grounded, this is why the strategy is needed, where one of the elements is analysis of the current situation, where we are also analyzing the structure. Theoretically, such changes are also possible.

I think that many people associate the social affairs with a structure just paying social benefits, but it is not so. The social affairs department provides a broad range of services. In 2021, those were 40 social services for a total sum of ER 3.6 million. Social services include not only social care at home or long-term care in institutions, there are also different day centers with activities for people with disabilities, while their family members are able to take a rest. Social services are modern and interesting, such as therapeutical games, music therapy, business behavior analysis, canistherapy, warm sand therapy and others.

What is the situation with employees? Many social services are complaining that they are short of social workers.

Of course. It is a matter that should be solved on the national level. Let us think logically and see what are the requirements for a social worker, on the employees’ work load. On the other hand, let’s look at the reimbursement for social workers in the country. Then, there are no surprises. It is not a problem only in Jelgava, but practically all social services. If this matter is not solved on the national level, achieving that people are interested in this job.

Speaking about Jelgava, we have 58 social workers and 11 vacancies. We see that we cannot find employees, the employees were affected by Covid-19 situation, and, as a result, the current employees are very tired and keep working under high pressure because the work load has not changed.

What is the institution’s budget this year? Is the budget bigger, considering Covid-19 crisis? Have any benefits been increased?

Financing to the Jelgava social affairs department has increased. In 2022, it was EUR 7.2 million. Compared to 2021, the growth is EUR 1.6 million, it is a significant growth.

There is a rise in state-funded services, also in municipal assistance and services. Three new structural units will be established - for services for families, group apartments, specialized workshops.

Considering the costs of services related with energy price hike, has the local government revised support to residents? Do you plan to change anything, increase benefits?

In relation to housing benefits, Jelgava local council was one of the first ones to introduce more favorable terms for calculating the housing benefits. The regulation has been improved also on the national level. Our plan is that in 2022 we plan to pay EUR 700,000 in housing benefits to Jelgava residents. In the first quarter we have paid about EUR 131,000, which is according to the plan.

We also have analyzed how the structure of recipients of housing benefits has changed - still these benefits mostly are paid to single pensioners and persons with disabilities among other groups of people.

What do local governments need from the state in order to help residents during the energy crisis? There have been reports that in the fall the support will be more targeted.

As I said, the financial resources always are limited. Of course, first we should help those who need most. We are not likely to be able to help all Latvia’s residents. First, we should identify the groups that are most subjected to poverty and social exclusion risks. Then, if we have more financial resources, we can go further and provide assistance to more people. But the basic approach should be that the assistance is targeted.

Do you agree then that so far the government support had not been targeted?

Of course, senior citizens is one of the target groups. But, in our opinion, the analysis should be more detailed, senior citizens also differ one from another. There are pensioners with large pensions, and pensioners with very low income. Benefits should also be assessed from the point of view of payment administration costs.

What is the progress of construction works in the building on Stacijas Street which will house different services, group apartments?

The works are being completed. We are already planning all works related with moving of the structural units and service provision. The building will house specialized workshops for persons with mental disabilities, woodworking workshops, leather workshops, sewing workshops which will be aimed at developing social and functional skills of these people, promoting their integration in the society.

The building will also provide family-environment services for children from social care homes. This will be a chance for children from orphanages to grow up in conditions that are as near to family-environment as possible.

Also, we plan to provide group apartment services - we see that there is a demand for that among persons with mental disabilities where they live together in such apartments and improve their social and self-care skills in the presence of social workers.

What is the situation with rental apartments in the city? Many local governments say that they do not have such apartments that can be offered to people.

In relation to rental apartments, there will be 25 such apartments on Stacijas Street. It will not solve all problems, but it will provide some opportunities at least.

The government has come up with quotas for local governments on the number of Ukrainian refugees they should accept. Do you see it possible to accept as many refugees as the government has planned?

The indicative number of Ukrainian refugees that Jelgava should accept is 1,160. In relation to accommodation places, Jelgava has been actively looking for solutions, accommodating refugees at Zemgale hotel, dormitories of the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies. We have an agreement signed with motel Akva. Many Ukrainians are staying in private apartments of local residents - they are relatives, acquaintances or friends.

Will we be able to receive everybody - it is a complicated question. It is one thing to find a place of living, but nothing stops at this. It is clear that when we have this large number of refugees, many other problems surface - kindergartens, schools, of course, social assistance and many other issues that should be solved.

Is it clear for local government how the state will support them in relation to Ukrainian refugees?

My opinion is quite harsh - I do not feel a considerate, united and clear action in the matter from the state.

I will describe how we organize this process in Jelgava. No process can be organized successfully without strategically and carefully planned management. A workgroup was established in Jelgava with representation from all institutions who potentially might be engaged in receiving refugees from Ukraine. A very rational, pragmatic scheme of procedures was established so that when a Ukrainian refugee arrives in Jelgava, we know what is happening, where he/she is going, what information is provided to the refugee, what the process is from the operational information center to coordinator in the respective institution if the person needs social assistance, education or any other services. Only then with careful planning, everything can be done rationally and efficiently. Also, constant communication was essential because of the unclear national regulations.

Looking at the situation on the national level, I do not feel this united and clear management of processes. There is separate communication with ministries, and it seems that they do not communicate among themselves.

One of the problematic issues was registration of Ukrainian residents or issue of personal codes. We understand that there should be information where these people receive benefits, how they are moving, which local government has provided support to them and of what kind. In order to obtain this information from systems, a unique identification number or personal code is necessary. Local governments have been ordered that they may not pay benefits if benefits have already been paid by a different municipality. It is easy to include such a norm in the regulation, but the instrument for its implementation has not been provided, local governments did not have access to such information.

In addition to human resources, also financial resources are necessary. Will the social affairs department turn to the city council, asking for budget amendments and additional allocations in relation to Ukrainian refugees?

According to the current legislation, every month we submit a report on what benefits we have paid to the Treasury. When these submissions are evaluated, then the state has promised to cover these costs. Currently all costs in relation to the assistance and services are covered from the budget of Jelgava social affairs department. Of course, the budget had been based on a completely different number of recipients of services and assistance. And these payments from the state are important for us because we also have to ensure all planned assistance to Jelgava residents.

Is it clear for the local governments what happens after three months when a Ukrainian refugee, for example, has not found a job and the period of benefits has expired?

It is a question what happens after these 90 days as stated by the law. The current regulations provide that until August 31 we provide all necessary services without assessing the material situation of refugees. We have no information about what happens after that. I hope it will be solved in a more efficient way.

There are municipalities in Latvia, offering different support to local households who have accommodated refugees. Is Jelgava considering such support?

It is a matter that should be solved on the national level again. In my opinion, there should be a united approach on the national and municipal level how these people are supported. And again, we should speak about the budget, which is not limitless.