Support for work ability as part of the services of future health and social ser-vices centres
The work ability programme works to develop services that support people’s ability to work. These services will be available at the future health and social services centres located in the wellbeing services counties.
This package of work ability support services will include and describe the support services in-tended for people with impaired capacity to work, and the relevant service providers. Bringing these services together requires engaging in regional cooperation, agreeing on matters and carrying out joint development work in networks.
Effective ways for healthcare and social welfare to support the employment of people with im-paired capacity to work
The programme will develop a model where a multidisciplinary work ability support team assesses the client’s need for support services and organises the necessary services. This team will assess the client’s functional capacity and ability to work, examine what support or benefits the client needs, assess the need for rehabilitation and organise the necessary rehabilitation services (substance abuse, mental health, vocational and social rehabilitation). In the service model, those in charge of client care will coordinate the service paths for clients with impaired capacity to work and ensure
that they get the support services they need, such as healthcare and social welfare services, rehabili-tation services and services provided by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. They will also support clients until the clients find employment.
Developing this service package will help healthcare and social welfare services support the work ability and functional capacity of those with impaired capacity to work and their employment. The model will direct clients from employment services to healthcare and social welfare services.
The work to develop the service package will be carried out by 22 regional projects. It is essential that the activities will become widespread and be established as part of the services provided by the future health and social services centres. As a result, a multidisciplinary cooperation network will be formed in the wellbeing services counties.
The aim is to improve the employment of unemployed people with impaired capacity to work. By developing services, it is possible to support clients’ work ability and functional capacity and to identify their need for support better than before. This will also shorten the duration of unemploy-ment when the service process for supporting work ability is client-oriented and runs smoothly.