In Spain, the system of care for dependency, in its current form of provision, is defined by a basic state law, with common criteria for all Spanish regions, which have the competencies for its management and development in their respective territories.
Within this framework, by means of Law 2/1995, of 6 April, the Social Services Management of Castilla y León was created as an autonomous administrative body, to which corresponds the execution of the competences of administration and management of the centres, services and social programmes entrusted to it by the Regional Government of Castilla y León.
The Social Services Management of Castilla y León is the body responsible for the design and development of the regional social policy plans and strategies, in collaboration with public and private entities that are part of the Social Services System of the region. Thus, its competences as responsible for Long Term Care in Castilla y León as well as its wide experience in new integrated care methodologies, makes of it the natural leader of the project.
In accordance with the provisions of Articles 45 et seq. of Law 16/2010 of 20 December, which regulates the system of social services of C&L, municipalities with a population greater than 20,000 inhabitants are competent in primary care social services, and provincial councils exercise this competence in municipalities with a population equal to or lower than 20,000 inhabitants.
Thus, the provincial councils have a wide network of professionals in the rural area, for the organisation of proximity and primary care services, always aligned with the strategic lines marked by the regional government. In this sense, they are ideal entities to participate in the project from the rural areas with an active role in making decisions regarding the pilot.
Fundación Personas is a non-profit entity with extensive experience in the provision of support to people with disability and other LTC services, which currently supports 4,000 people in various provinces of the region, both in urban and rural areas.
It is a key local actor, taking part in the piloting phase and the involvement of the users thanks to its wide coverage and experience. It is well stablished in the two rural areas where the pilot will be developed.
The University of Valladolid has the responsibility to be at the leading edge of research activity and at the forefront in the creation of the intellectual wealth that is to contribute to the social wellbeing.
Researchers at the University of Valladolid carry out their activity in different research units: 59 departments, seven university institutes, nine university institutes of its own and six technology centres part-owned by the university.
Within this context, its department of Psychology, is an essential partner to develop the Quality Plan and the Risks and Contingencies Plan, in accordance with the criteria established by the Quality Group.
The European Social Network (ESN) is the network for local public social services in Europe. It has over 120 member organisations in 35 countries which comprise national associations of directors, departments of social welfare of government, regions, counties and municipalities, funding and regulatory agencies, universities and other research and development organisations.
ESN is a key partner of RuralCare, as per its experience in the implementation of social care projects, its transnational dimension, its capacity to communicate and disseminate, and its potential to transfer the results of the project to other territorial contexts.