社福法人間の貸し付け可能に　経営基盤強化で連携―厚労省

　厚生労働省は、特別養護老人ホームや保育所などを運営する社会福祉法人（社福）が複数参加し、課題に連携して当たる「社会福祉連携推進法人」（連携法人）制度を創設する方針を決めた。社福の経営基盤を強化し、少子高齢化や社会構造の変化で多様化する福祉ニーズに、対応しやすくするのが目的。これまで認めていなかった社福間の資金貸し付けも、連携法人内であればできるようにする。
　通常国会に社会福祉法改正案を提出する。ただ、制度の細部を整える必要から施行までに数年の猶予期間を設けることも視野に入れている。
　連携法人の業務としては、(1)災害対応(2)福祉人材の確保・育成(3)事務の集約や設備の共同購入(4)社福への資金貸し付け―などを想定。社会福祉事業を取り巻く課題に連携して対応できる組織とする。（2020/01/18-15:20）

The Japanese welfare ministry plans to create a system allowing social welfare service operators to form partnerships to strengthen their business management base and jointly tackle various challenges.
   The plan allows corporations that run special care homes for the elderly, nursery schools and other welfare services to jointly form entities for the purpose of promoting cooperation. The system makes it easier to respond to welfare needs, which have diversified due to the aging population and changes to social structures.
   The plan also allows social welfare corporations to give loans to one another.
   To introduce the cooperation system, the ministry will submit a bill to revise the Social Welfare Act at the ordinary session of the Diet, Japan's parliament, slated to begin on Monday. A grace period of several years between the passing of the bill and its enactment is being considered, as the ministry sees the need to work out details of the new system.
   The entities to be formed by social welfare corporations will engage in disaster response work, secure and educate potential welfare workers, help share office work, make joint equipment purchases and give loans to member welfare corporations.