The main approaches to assessing the quality and effectiveness of measures for assisting persons with disabilities
Authors: Pavlova S. V. , Salogub A. M. 
Published: June 2024

Introduction. Currently, there is a fairly high demand from society for changing approaches to the life of people with disabilities, improving the level and quality of their lives. There is an increase in the number of people with disabilities who need to be assisted when receiving services for assisted living, assisted work and social employment of disabled people in the Russian Federation. The article considers the main methodological approaches to assessing the quality and effectiveness of support measures in the provision of services for assisted living, assisted work and social employment of persons with disabilities.

Aim. The study of indicators of the quality and effectiveness of support measures for the formation of unified approaches in various departments of the support system of the Russian Federation aimed at improving the level of assistance and support to the population.

Materials and methods. Normative legal and methodological documentation, special literature, information systems of federal executive authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Applied general scientific methods (content analysis, analytical, system-structured, comparative) and methodological methods of systematization, comparison, generalization, interpretation, as well as special methods — formal legal, comparative legal.

Results. The main approaches to assessing the quality and effectiveness of support measures may include: availability of receiving support events; compliance with goals and objectives; the economic component (the necessary costs for conducting support activities); competence and professionalism of specialists; satisfaction of recipients (improving the quality of life of recipients). To assess the quality and effectiveness of support measures, the following criteria are highlighted: improving the quality of life of assisted persons, including their physical, psychological and social well-being, improving social adaptation and inclusion of escorted persons in society; the communicative effectiveness of the work of the specialists of the support system, both in a group and individually with each assisted one; сost-effectiveness of support activities, optimization of resource use and reduction of costs for the provision of the support process; аssessment of the satisfaction of the assisted ones and their families with the assistance and support provided; the effectiveness of interdepartmental interaction, co-operation and co-ordination of work between various services and organizations in the support system; assessment of the achievement of targets and tasks in the support system. The score is determined for each criterion separately based on the amount of points received. If the amount is below 55% of the maximum possible, the rating is "unsatisfactory", if from 56 to 85% – "good", above 85% – "excellent". Thus, the introduction of methods for evaluating the effectiveness and quality of support measures will make them more accessible and useful for all categories of the population in need of the Russian Federation.

Discussion. One of the key indicators of the quality and effectiveness of the support system's activities is the availability of support activities for all those in need. It is necessary to ensure equal access to quality support in obtaining social services for all categories of people in need, regardless of their place of residence, family income and other factors. Another important indicator is the effectiveness of the work of the specialists providing support. Training and advanced training of specialists, as well as modern methods of working with assisted ones and their families, will help to increase the effectiveness of assisting activities when receiving social services and improve the results of assistance, in general. Effective implementation of methods and technologies for assessing the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of the support system requires a systematic approach and co-ordination of efforts at various levels, interdepartmental interaction, regulation of legal relations in the support system in the Russian Federation.

Conclusion. The main indicators of the quality and effectiveness of support contribute to providing feedback from both the assisted ones and those in need of support activities, as well as from the specialists of the support system and management structures. This will allow considering the opinions and needs of all participants in the support process, which contributes to the development of a sustainable and adaptive system.