The development of social services in the twenty-first century due to the dynamic progress of the investment and activating policy. The society of the 21st century is a society of services as most of the workplaces are created in the service sector (public and community). This means that at least 50% of working people reach incomes from working in services. Thus, on the one hand, more and more people are employed in services, on the other hand, more and more services are consumed by households. Its characteristic feature is the principle of ‘una actu’ which means the production and consumption take place at the same time and place as a result of the same action. The purpose of this publication is to present all issues related to social services – definition, role and relevance, innovative theoretical approaches, organisation by government and non-governmental entities and, on the example of polish solutions, their application to selected groups of beneficiaries of social assistance, i.e. unemployed persons, addicts, old people, refugees, victims of domestic violence.
Knowledge of professionals for providing social services for old people