Project
Providing visibility to the service paths of the unemployed
The project produces up-to-date and comparable information on the service needs and service paths of unemployed people and thus addresses the fragmented practices of social welfare, healthcare, rehabilitation and employment services and the blind spots related to transitional phases. The project improves the smoothness of service paths, co-operation between various parties and competencies through joint development, research-based information and practical solutions. In addition, it improves the quality and effectiveness of services that support the health, work ability and functional capacity for people who with difficulties in finding employment. The project is conducted in co-operation with the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Objectives
- Produce research and development data on the service needs of unemployed persons who have participated in medical examinations and on referral to social welfare, health care, rehabilitation and employment services.
- Develop and harmonise services and service paths together with social welfare and healthcare professionals and experts by experience.
- Build an open online training course for professionals performing medical examinations for unemployed people as well as employers and the unemployed.
- Provide an overview of customer relationship transitions between occupational health care and student health care as well as other social welfare and employment services.
- Produce practical recommendations and materials to support decision-making and development work.
Key target groups of the project
- social welfare and health care professionals that carry out medical examinations of unemployed persons
- various parties in wellbeing services counties and municipal employment areas
- Kela and other stakeholders that support rehabilitation
- occupational health care and student health care professionals
- indirectly unemployed and persons at risk of unemployment
- indirect employers and other parties involved in supporting work ability
During the project, we will
- produce a multi-method overview of the service needs and transitional phases of unemployed people (e.g. register and survey materials, interviews)
- co-develop services and service paths in webinars by the network of professionals of health care services for the unemployed, co-development workshops (professionals and experts by experience) and stakeholder seminars
- continue the implementation of work ability support transfer forms and develop a statement template for communicating work ability information from student health care to other health care and employment services
- organise joint events with wellbeing services counties, Kela, occupational health care, student health care and municipal employment areas to support interface work
- develop an open online training course for professionals who carry out medical examinations of unemployed persons, employers and unemployed persons.
Data and methods
The goal of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s research section is to investigate how people with work ability challenges move from one work ability support service to another at the interfaces of different service systems. The study assesses the prerequisites for successful transitions, factors motivating collaboration and competence needs for collaboration between services from the perspective of both clients and professionals.
The study will use to following data and methods:
- Thematic interviews, which are conducted with:
- professionals in occupational health care, social welfare and health services and employment services
- workplace representatives
- clients with experience of work ability support services and transitions between them.
- Workshops and collaboration events, in which:
- results are interpreted and deepened together with key stakeholders
- areas for development and good practices for strengthening collaboration between services are identified.
Results and impact
Based on the results of the project
- national recommendations will be updated and practical material for professionals will be published
- information to support decision-making and the development of the service system will be produced
- an open online training course for professionals performing medical examinations of unemployed persons as well as employers and unemployed persons will be created and competence and co-operation in supporting finding employment and work ability will be increased.
- smoother and more equal service paths for unemployed people and those about to become unemployed will be strengthened.
Ask about the project
Kirsi Lappalainen
Project Manager, Senior Specialist
Email
kirsi.lappalainen [at] ttl.fi
Phone
+358 30 474 7228
Research group
Partners
- The Finnish National Organisation of the Unemployed
- The Finnish Association of Public Health Nurses
Funding
The project is co-funded by the European Union.
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
