Occupations and qualifications

To qualify for social welfare professions you need to complete university studies in social work or take a polytechnic degree in social services. The degree of Master of Social Sciences with major subject studies in social work gives the necessary qualification for the profession of social worker, and a polytechnic degree in the field of social services (Bachelor of Social Services or Bachelor of Social Services and Health Care) qualifies for social instruction tasks.

In matters concerning professions and qualifications you can contact the following special advisers in Talentia's Employment Unit:

Päivi Mäkinen 09-3158 6021, paivi.makinen@talentia.fi
Mervi Tolonen 09-3158 6020, mervi.tolonen@talentia.fi
Marjo Varsa 09-3158 6022, marjo.varsa@talentia.fi

Examples of professional titles and posts of social workers:
social worker, senior social worker, school social worker, sociotherapist, senior sociotherapist, social welfare ombudsman, rehabilitation social worker, director of social work with the aged, A-Clinic director, department head, social secretary, director of social services department, project worker, project manager. Holders of a Master of Social Sciences degree with major subject studies in social work are employed as social workers in both the public and the private sector and they have administrative management, planning, development, and supervisory tasks.

Examples of professional titles and posts of Bachelors of Social Services:
kindergarten teacher, instructor at a children's institution, instructor at a supported housing unit, instructor for the mentally handicapped, rehabilitative work instructor, home-help services supervisor, project worker, family worker, organisation employee, child daycare manager, child daycare supervisor, director of social work with the aged, project manager. Bachelors of Social Services are qualified for demanding tasks requiring social welfare expertise in both the public and the private sector, such as various instructing and educating tasks and management and supervisory positions in both public and private sector service units.

Qualification requirements of social welfare professionals
The qualification requirements for social welfare posts are unequivocally defined in the Act on Qualification Requirements of Social Welfare Professionals (272/2005), which entered into force on 1st August, 2005, and in a decree that includes more detailed provisions (608/2005). The Act is applicable to all administrative fields: municipalities, government, enterprises, and organisations. The Act defines the qualification requirements for key social welfare professions, i.e. social worker, social services ombudsman, child supervisor, social instructor, kindergarten teacher, and practical nurse.

Old degrees and new qualifications
The majority of professionals working within social services or social work (as social workers, social instructors, or kindergarten teachers, or in administrative, management, or supervisory positions) have completed their education and training under the old system and hold qualifications required by the previous decree.

The transitional provisions of the Qualification Requirements Act and Decree ensure that the law reform does not annul a qualification that was valid under the previous decree. As to their qualifications, holders of old degrees are therefore on an equal footing with those who have completed their degrees under the new system.