City-wide

The Elderly Care Committee has approved its annual report and financial statements for 2025. This signifies that the committee achieved its objectives for the year in elderly care, including improving and developing the quality of services. The committee is also requesting a budget adjustment of 3.8 million SEK for the so-called NU project, which aims to develop a new system for execution within elderly care.

The Social Services Administration has decided to extend the retention period for logs in the patient record system Vodok, which contain information about patient access and modifications, from the previous 10 years to 15 years. This change is due to the fact that the statute of limitations for aggravated data breaches is 15 years, and the administration wants to be able to investigate such offenses. The decision will be applied retroactively, and handling instructions will be updated accordingly.

Stockholm has been selected as one of ten model municipalities in Sweden to improve work for people with disabilities. The focus will be on employment, leisure activities, crime prevention, and schools to facilitate life for individuals with disabilities. The Council for Disability Issues also discussed the city's LSS summer camp activities and the possibility of offering sign language summer camps, to which the response was that individual needs have been attempted to be met but no specific assignment currently exists.

The Liberal Party proposed that Stockholm City develop more tailored support services for LGBTQI individuals, particularly transgender people and gay men, who sell sex, arguing that current support primarily focuses on the needs of heterosexual women and that LGBTQI individuals often have different reasons for prostitution and face distrust from authorities. The Social Welfare Administration acknowledges awareness of LGBTQI individuals' vulnerability but lacks specific tailored support for those selling sex, stating that support for sex workers is provided in a gender-neutral manner based on individual needs. The administration recognizes a continued need to educate staff, develop services, and collaborate with civil society to broaden support for this group.

The Social Services Committee must elect new members to two of its subcommittees for the remainder of 2026. This is because one member, Rashid Mohammed (Left Party), has switched positions between subcommittees, and a substitute position was previously left vacant. Consequently, new individuals need to be elected to fill these seats on the Permits Subcommittee and the Organization and Association Subcommittee.

The Stockholm Social Services Administration plans to introduce a new, intensive family intervention called Multisystemic Therapy - Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) for children aged 6 to 17 who are at risk of harm in their homes. This intervention, costing 55.4 million SEK over three years, aims to help families experiencing physical violence, neglect, or maltreatment improve their situation and avoid out-of-home placements for children. The project is set to launch in the spring of 2026 in the districts of Järva, Enskede-Årsta-Vantör, Hässelby-Vällingby, and Hägersten-Älvsjö, pending approval of funds from the Social Investment Fund.

The Social Welfare Committee in Stockholm has approved a supervision plan for 2026 concerning the sale of tobacco, low-alcohol beer, nicotine-free products, and certain over-the-counter medicines. The aim is to ensure that points of sale comply with laws and regulations through unannounced visits and test purchases, where individuals over 18 attempt to buy without identification. The plan prioritizes preventing non-compliance and informing retailers about current provisions, with a specific focus on outlets near schools.

The Social Services Administration in Stockholm has developed a supervision plan for 2026 outlining how they will ensure restaurants and bars with liquor licenses comply with alcohol laws. The goal is to reduce alcohol-related harm and enhance public safety. The plan includes preventive measures like information and education, internal checks on business finances, and on-site inspections to verify adherence to regulations concerning age, intoxication levels, and order. All licensed establishments will receive at least one visit annually, with those open late or with previous violations subject to more frequent inspections.

The Social Services Committee has followed up its collaboration with non-profit organizations supporting vulnerable EU and non-EU citizens in Stockholm during May-October 2025. The report indicates 6,644 overnight stays in night activities and 28,519 visits to day activities, with most visitors from Romania and Poland. While the number of unique individuals receiving assistance has increased, total overnight stays and daily visits have decreased compared to last year, partly due to reduced opening hours for day activities. The Social Services Committee proposes to approve this follow-up.

The Stockholm City Social Services Committee proposes that 16 different services, such as housing guidance, budget and debt counseling, support for victims of violence, and parenting support, be offered without individual needs assessments starting March 1, 2026. This means residents will be able to receive help faster and more easily. For certain services, like support for concerns about alcohol, drugs, or gambling, and support groups for children and relatives, no personal data will be documented to lower the threshold for seeking help.

This report summarizes the Disability Inspectorate's quality reviews for 2025, which focused on children's participation in LSS services and employment/open activities within social psychiatry. While the city largely adheres to guidelines, improvements are needed to involve individuals more in planning, ensure caregivers are acknowledged, and strengthen the child rights perspective in case management. The Social Welfare Board is proposed to approve the report and forward it to the City Executive Board and District Councils for use in ongoing quality improvement and potential competence initiatives.

The Social Services' annual report for 2025 indicates that individuals experiencing long-term homelessness and receiving financial assistance are receiving insufficient support due to a lack of collaboration between various stakeholders, particularly healthcare services. The report concludes that these individuals require more coordinated and individually tailored interventions with a holistic approach. The year also focused on strengthening children's participation in social services' work, and for 2026, a review is planned on how young people receive aftercare following placement.

The City of Stockholm is updating its guidelines for financial assistance, as the previous ones were from 2017. The new guidelines are clearer, focus on what is specific to Stockholm, and incorporate updates based on new legislation, aiming for more legally sound and equitable processing. Key changes include a "Stockholm norm" providing additional funds for food and leisure for children and youth aged 0-20, a special summer holiday allowance for children in families with long-term financial assistance, and ensuring that habilitation and apprentice compensation will not be counted as income when calculating assistance.

The Social Services Committee in Stockholm has approved its activity report for 2025. The report details the committee's work on meeting the City Council's goals, including preventive social services, crime prevention, measures against homelessness, and service digitalization. A key focus was implementing a new social services law emphasizing early interventions and improving collaboration between social services and schools to help children and youth achieve their educational objectives. The possibility of offering general escort services without individual need assessments was considered, but deemed unsuitable due to high costs, challenges in controlling usage, and organizational issues within the city's choice system.

Stockholm City aims to become more age-friendly so that all older people can thrive, participate in society, and feel secure. The Social Administration is positive towards the new action plan, which includes measures for homeless seniors. However, the Administration proposes that the plan also address older adults who experience domestic violence and those with substance abuse issues, as these groups require specific support.

Stockholm City has developed a new food program, "Good Food for Health, Climate, and Environment," to guide the city's work with food and meals. The program aims to promote healthy and sustainable meals within city operations, such as schools and elderly care, and to develop Stockholm as a vibrant food city with residents having access to healthier food with less environmental impact. The Social Services Administration supports the program but suggests clarifying the wording regarding "Social Services operations" to specify that it primarily applies to units that actually serve meals.

Local politicians Jan Jönsson and Anne-Lie Elfvén have proposed that Stockholm investigate a system similar to Uppsala's UppSam to better coordinate school support for children in foster care, including those from other municipalities. The aim is to provide these children with more stable schooling, as they often experience disruptions and lack of continuity. The Social Services Administration agrees with the problem description but believes Stockholm's existing support systems, such as SAMS, Skolfam, and school coordinators, are sufficient and should be strengthened instead.

The Moderates have proposed Stockholm implement "safety kiosks" at locations like subway stations, staffed by police, social services, and security guards. The aim is to locally increase safety through visible presence and facilitate cooperation among safety-promoting actors. However, the Social Services Administration believes existing cooperation functions well and that mobile work is more effective than fixed kiosks in meeting needs as they arise.

The Liberal party proposed a "district lift" to broaden efforts in vulnerable Stockholm areas beyond the current focus on Järva, requesting a plan with specific goals for safety, schools, housing, and social services in neighborhoods like Bredäng, Hagsätra, and Hässelby-Vällingby. While the social services department agrees more resources are needed, they believe the current plan already addresses this with designated focus areas and prefer to await an evaluation of these areas in 2026 before implementing new action plans.

The City of Stockholm is implementing an action plan to improve the unsatisfactory ecological and chemical water quality in Strömmen, currently impacted by pollution from various sources including harbor areas, traffic, and wastewater. The program proposes concrete measures such as purifying contaminated seabed sediments, enhancing stormwater management, and creating better habitats for flora and fauna. While costs are estimated in the hundreds of millions of kronor, funding decisions will be made continuously through the city's regular processes.