Okuzeka
Public Administration vocabulary · Public Services

Social services

Meaning in public administration, with examples

nounCore term

In public administration, social services means: Public services that support people in need, such as children at risk, older people, people with disabilities and low-income families, and the department that provides them.

In Turkish: sosyal hizmetler, sosyal hizmet birimi

How it is used

In British English social services often means the local council department: Social services were contacted about the family. Staff are social workers. Common phrases: adult social services, children's social services, refer someone to social services.

Example sentences

  1. The school contacted social services because the child was often left alone at home.

  2. Demand for social services has risen as the population gets older.

Common collocations

  • social services department
  • refer to social services
  • adult social services
  • children's social services
  • public serviceA service provided by the state, or on its behalf, for everyone in society, such as health care, education, transport or rubbish collection; also the work of people employed by the state.
  • eligibilityThe fact of meeting the official conditions needed to receive a benefit, service, grant or job, such as age, income, residence or qualifications.
  • service deliveryThe way public services actually reach the people who use them, including access, speed, quality and the channels through which they are provided.
  • local governmentThe system of elected councils and their administrations that run services for a city, town or region, such as waste collection, local roads and parks.

More terms: Public Services

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: