The Councilor for Social Welfare of the Arrecife City Council, Maite Corujo, has conveyed to the families and users of the Home Help Service that the City Council "is not standing idly by" in the face of the incidents that have been occurring and that it is adopting "all measures within its reach to improve the provision".
“We know that there are daily complaints from people and families who have been granted the service and who, on occasion, see how it is not provided, without receiving sufficient information about what happened. I want them to know that we have been working with the company for months to try to resolve the problems that are occurring,” explains Corujo.
The municipal official points out that, during this time, the contractor has been given leeway to reinforce its staff, incorporate new personnel, and facilitate their adaptation to the provision of the service. “We have tried not to pull the rope too tight and to give the company opportunities to correct the situation, but a point has been reached where we must act according to procedure and ensure that the service is provided under the established conditions,” she states.
A requirement due to repeated incidents
The Department of Social Welfare has formally required ASIDMA Servicios Sociales, S.L., the contractor for the Home Help Service, to rectify the detected breaches and prove the correct execution of the contracted services. The communication, signed on September 1, 2026, grants the company a period of ten business days from its receipt to submit the corresponding documentation and, if applicable, make any allegations it deems appropriate.
The requirement warns that, if the breaches persist or the allegations do not refute the observed facts, the City Council may impose the penalties provided for in the contract, which can reach up to 2% of the contractual price, excluding IGIC. Likewise, depending on the severity and repetition of the breaches, a contract termination procedure may be initiated.
The report includes incidents related to suspended, canceled, or unperformed services, as well as modifications and alterations to the service provision conditions. The analyzed period covers from August 18 to September 1, 2026, although the document indicates that the situation had been manifesting previously and that a progressive trend of increasing suspended or canceled services is observed.
Among the registered incidents are cancellations and suspensions attributed to a lack of personnel, in addition to services that were not performed. The report differentiates these situations from those incidents whose cause could be due to decisions or circumstances attributable to users or their families.
The municipal document recalls that the tender obliges the company to have an adequate and sufficient staff, cover absences immediately, and guarantee the care of beneficiaries regardless of vacations, permits, sick leave, or other circumstances affecting its personnel. Likewise, it establishes that only services effectively and directly provided to users will be paid for.
Guaranteeing users' rights
Maite Corujo emphasizes that the municipal action is not solely an administrative or contractual matter. “It is not a fight against the company. It is about defending an essential service and ensuring that users receive the attention they are granted under adequate conditions. Our obligation, as the Administration, is to look out for the residents who depend on this resource and to act when we verify that the service is not being provided as it should be,” she points out.
In this regard, the Department of Social Welfare considers that the City Council must guarantee the adequate provision of the service and ensure that it is offered with quality levels consistent with the needs and rights of the people being attended.
“We are acting in favor of the people who need this service and their families. The Home Help Service is essential for many residents of Arrecife, and our responsibility is to ensure that it is provided with the quality, continuity, and attention they deserve,” concludes Maite Corujo.
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