ΤΗΕ MISSION OF NCSS

The National Centre for Social Solidarity (NCSS) was founded based on the article 6 of law 3106/2003 (GG Α΄ 30) under the name “National Centre of Emergency Social Assistance”. It was renamed to National Centre for Social Solidarity based on the article 20 of law 3402/2005(GG 258Α).

According to its Organizational Chart (PD 22/7-2-2006, iss. Α GG 18 and its amendment through the (Presidential Decree 41/23-06-2021, Official Gazette 103), the NCSS is an independent legal entity governed by public law, based in Athens and according to law 4052/12 is supervised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, formerly named Ministry of Labour, Social Insurance and Social Solidarity (PD 81/2019 (GG A 119)

         According to its founding law, as was amended with article 48 law 4554/2018 (GG Α΄ 130), the NCSS institutional mission is to effectively face social urgent situations, social exclusion and crisis via:

  • developing qualitative, innovative and specialised programmes integrated in the social solidarity system,
  • reinforcing social protection networks
  • participating in national and international networks of social and scientific actors
  • coordinating the existing network of services

its advisory role to the supervising Ministry for issues of social policy, measures for improving the effectiveness of the services provided by the social care actors.

NCSS’ s PURPOSE

 The NCSS’ s purpose is to:

  • provide protection and psychosocial support, as well as
  • coordinate the network of protection services to individuals, families and population groups that face poverty or social exclusion (art. 48, Law. 4554/ 2018)
  • delivering opinions to the supervising Ministry on social policy issues.

     

RESPONSIBILITIES

 To achieve its purpose, the NCSS has the following responsibilities:

  • Psychosocial support and advice to individuals, families and vulnerable groups, that face acute psychosocial conditions or social exclusion, as well as in cases of natural disasters or accidents with mass casualties.
  • Informing citizens on services, social care programmes and welfare rights.
  • Short-term accommodation in shelters and covering basic needs of individuals and families facing crisis or homelessness.
  • Coordinating social solidarity programmes and connecting the Actors providing them, for an effective and immediate catering of social needs.
  • Planning and implementing specializing services for each target group and each field of action.
  • Preparation of a national action plan, over a time frame of ten years, since EKKA has been appointed as the National Coordinator for the European Child Guarantee, in response to the EU Recommendation 2021/1004 of the Council of Europe, in accordance with Law 4837/2021(article 53), with responsibilities that include the coordination and the monitoring of the implementation of the Recommendation above.
  • Organizing and keeping the national registries of fostering and adoption, candidate foster and adoptive parents, minors hosted in protection Structures, the registry of unaccompanied and separated children and professional guardians as well as cooperating with the competent judicial and administrative child protection authorities.
  • Planning, implementing and handling actions and programmes co-funded by the EU or by the state, to fulfill its purpose.
  • Evaluation of the services provided by private social protection actors and delivering opinions for their certification to the supervising Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
  • Training professionals of public or private actors and volunteers in social protection issues.

solidarity