Objectives and principles of organisation of social services Social services are often meant to achieve a number of specific aims: − they are person-oriented services, designed to respond to vital human needs, in particular the needs of users in vulnerable position; they provide protection from general as well as specific risks of life and assist in personal challenges or crises; they are also provided to families in a context of changing family patterns, support their role in caring for both young and old family members, as well as for people with disabilities, and compensate possible failings within the families; they are key instruments for the safeguard of fundamental human rights and human dignity;
Lesdits cadres font actuellement l'objet d'un processus de modernisation, à la lumière des évolutions technologiques ou des grands défis mondiaux, tels que le changement climatique, et à la suite des élargissements successifs, lesquels ont créé davantage de diversité dans l'approche des États membres en matière de services d'intérêt général.