Before using the Self Sufficiency Matrix (SSM-CAT), professionals from Barcelona City Council’s Social Services used conceptual criteria which were not as well defined for analysis or the evaluation of users. Now the application allows for:

• Working with unified language criteria to make an analysis.
• Screening and detecting cases with complex social needs more swiftly.
• Improving monitoring and communication with users.
• Exchanging information on cases and improving coordination between different teams.
• Referring cases between the different services and basic areas.
• Prioritising the allocation of public resources.
• Anticipating new resources to respond to eventual needs.
• Improving planning and analysis for groups in need.
• Greater equity in the provision of services at all centres.

The application measures a person’s self-sufficiency by analysing thirteen categorised aspects of their life at a certain moment and a further four aspects in the case of people responsible for minors. The SSM-CAT tool, promoted by the Government of Catalonia, is a shared application used by professionals from all social services in Catalonia.