The series is a municipal coproduction with the producer Benecé, with the participation of Betevé. The public broadcaster will be showing the first season of four episodes in the series every Tuesday, which can also be seen on beteve.cat.

A leading city in social work

The documentary has been conceived with the vocation of giving an audiovisual account of the work and broad range of all services, facilities and resources making up basic and specialised social services in Barcelona, a leading city on social matters on a European scale. It does so by looking at the everyday life of these services, using personal accounts and experiences from professionals who work there, as well as users.

We will get an insight into everyday activity and the support given to people in difficult situations and/or economic or family problems, to improve their well-being and autonomy. Professional teams from social services connect people with the most suitable resources, according to each case, through a local approach and perspective of prevention and neighbourhood community. Because social services are universal, and at some point in our lives we can all benefit from them.

At the same time, Ciutat social pays homage to all workers who form part of an essential service and who, even if they are among the most workers most valued by people, may not be visible to most people in Barcelona.

Eight episodes in two seasons

The first season looks at the following themes:

• Telecare: how this service works, one of the best-known services from social services, who is behind the calls: the everyday life of people who are part of it and some real cases where the service has proved decisive.
• Right to food: from soup kitchens to meals at home with company and food spaces, this episode focuses on how the food needs of people at risk in the city are addressed.
• Social emergencies: a look at the work of professionals at the Barcelona Urgent Care and Social Emergency Centre (CUESB), which offers a stable psychological and social support service, dealing with any urgent situation or social emergency in the city, around the clock, every day of the year.
• Childhood and adolescence: the last episode of the first season centres on children and teenagers, who are guaranteed a series or rights for being just this. In situations where they may be considered at risk, the social services network has a wide range of actions and specialised facilities to provide them with the most suitable and specialised support.

The second season, to be shown at a later date, looks at four more episodes in the function of social services centres, support for the homeless, assistance for women who suffer gender violence and support for immigrants.