Starting signal for a new care authority in Southwest Palatinate!

Starting signal for a new care authority in Southwest Palatinate!

On July 8, 2025 there will be news in Southwest Palatinate that is of central importance for the region. The cities of Zweibrücken and Pirmasens as well as the district of Südwestpfalz have set up a joint care authority. The aim of this new facility is to make the care of people in need of legal support more efficient and closer to the citizen. [Rheinpfalz] reports that the required purpose agreement was drawn up by a specialist group and is now available to the municipal committees for resolution.

The newly founded authority will bundle the tasks of the previous care centers at the Zweibrücken and Pirmasens locations, with a focus on self-determination and social participation. This reform is part of the comprehensive model “Intermunicipal Cooperation (IKZ) Südwestpfalz”, which aims to strengthen the structures of the care authorities and increase the quality of care. Another aspect of this inter-municipal cooperation is that the new structures offer modern, sustainable care that meets the needs of citizens. [LK Südwestpfalz] emphasizes that the decision to give the authority a uniform name will be determined after the consultations of the municipal committees.

Legal background and requirements

The background to this redesign is the reform of care law, which came into force in 2023. It places a clear focus on supported decision-making and strengthens the self-determination of people in need of care. [Federal government] describes that the adjustments are necessary to adapt to the needs of the present. One of the main intentions is to place greater emphasis on the individual wishes of those being cared for and to significantly improve the quality of legal support. In concrete terms, this means that care is only offered when it is actually necessary.

The new care authority will not only work to organize the required support, but will also work closely with social support systems and care courts. This interlinking is intended to help increase accessibility for citizens and shorten the journey to the authority, especially for people from the Zweibrücken-Land municipality. The new authority will also make legal support in court proceedings more technically sound.

Future projects and developments

Further initiatives are also planned as part of the joint project. A joint office for training funding will be set up as early as 2025, and the successful establishment of a funding acquisition office has already been completed. In the long term, a joint procurement office and a central procurement office in the area of ​​fire and disaster protection are also planned. These steps underline the desire for inter-municipal cooperation and the creation of a stable and citizen-oriented structure.

Overall, the establishment of the joint legal guardianship authority in Southwest Palatinate shows that the affected cities and the district are prepared to find an innovative and effective solution to the challenges of legal guardianship. The new approach not only improves the quality of care, but also sets an example for the importance of participation and self-determination.