SIUSS Information System: A Comprehensive Guide

SIUSS Information System (Users of Social Services)

Overview

The SIUSS is a computerized information system used by social services. It collects data from various sources and serves as a support document for professionals in social development. The system is configured through family records, providing social workers with a basis for their management and interventions.

Objectives

• Collect basic user data in a useful and flexible way to allow for efficient monitoring and rapid intervention.
• Enable a deeper understanding of the characteristics and profiles of users.

Contents

The SIUSS has a core section divided into the following groups:

• User Data
• Family Data
• Socio-habitat Data
• Data on Demand, Social Interaction, Resource Assessment, and Applied Remedies

Modules

The system includes three modules:

• Home Assistance
• Child Abuse
• Gender-Based Violence

Utilities

• Develop social tabs
• Manage performance
• Serve as an information search tool
• Facilitate the monitoring of performances for both consultations and quick information retrieval
• Provide support for social diagnosis
• Enable information storage and tracking

SIUSS Structure

The SIUSS has a four-level structure:

• UTS Unit (Social Work): Contains the core content and social development of the system. This level focuses on data collection.
• Social Service Center: Receives data from UTS units for their own holdings. It also defines the UTS units and their zones.
• Autonomous Region: Receives data from social services for their own databases. The autonomous region defines the structures of the Social Service Centers and the sectors within its territory.
• Ministry of Labor and Social Services: Receives data from the regions and manages databases for the entire country.

Communication in Social Services

Difference Between Information, Interaction, and Communication

Information is the content of communication. It's characterized by impersonality and a unidirectional flow, often clear, fast, and organized. This allows the sender to maintain power and control.

However, information can sometimes be faulty. This is where feedback comes in. Effective communication requires a positive interpersonal relationship between the sender and receiver, allowing for confirmation and clarification of the content.

This feedback process is necessary to move from mere interaction to true communication, making it a dynamic process.

Types of Communication

• Formal: Pre-arranged by the organization, ensuring necessary information is delivered in a timely manner. It aims to control and predict individual behavior, guiding it towards established standards and goals. It can be vertical (descending/ascending) or horizontal.
• Informal: Arises from personal relationships and interactions within the organization. It's less structured and can be subject to issues like noise, gossip, and rumors. It can either confirm, modify, or replace formal messages.
• External: Information that comes from the environment in which the user operates, such as the client's family.

Elements of Communication

Communication involves several key elements:

• Sender: The person or group issuing the message.
• Receiver: The person or group receiving the message.
• Code: A system of signs and rules understood by both sender and receiver. This includes language (oral and written) as well as para-language (gestures, postures, glances).
• Message: The idea, concept, or feeling being transmitted.
• Channel: The medium through which the message is transmitted (e.g., speech, writing).
• Feedback: The receiver's response to the sender, confirming understanding or requesting clarification.
• Context: The environment or situation in which communication takes place. It influences how the message is interpreted.