Social Services
Social Services supports patients throughout their recovery and helps them regain the ability to manage everyday life independently. If is an integral part of the holistic treatment provided by the University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK) Basel.
The Department works closely with the relevant treatment teams. It coordinates and connects patients with external organisations, authorities and advice centres. Support is available regardless of whether patients are receiving inpatient, day-patient or outpatient treatment at UPK Basel.
The goal is to support patients in regaining their independence and encourages their efforts to reintegrate into society. Social Services provides advice, support, empowerment, referrals aswell as coordination in the following areas:
Finances
- Assessing the patient’s financial situation
- Securing financial means of subsistence
- Preparing a budget
- Checking eligibility for social insurance benefits
- Providing assistance with administrative matters
- Arranging support with financial management
Employment and Daily Activities
- Assessing the patient’s employment situation
- Discussions with employers (with the patient’s consent)
- Supporting patients in returning to work
- Applying for vocational and occupational reintegration measures through Swiss disability insurance (IV)
- Advising on and arranging supportive forms of daily structure and activities
- Providing advice and contacts regarding employment law
Housing
- Advising on different forms of accommodation
- Supporting patients in retaining their own home
- Advising on and arranging supported and supervised accommodation
- Clarifying funding options
- Providing information and advice on moving home and terminating a tenancy
- Assessing and organising support for independent living
- Addressing difficult situations involving landlords or neighbours
- Providing information, advice and contacts regarding tenancy law
Social Connections
- Connecting patients with organisations and advice centres
- Supporting patients in dealing with authorities
- Supporting contact with people in their personal and private lives
- Supporting contact with self-help groups
- Providing information about leisure activities and opportunities
- Providing advice and contacts regarding legal matters in everyday situations