Sosiaalityö ja sote-integraatio

Abstract

The integration of healthcare and social welfare services has been seen as a solution to many problems in the service system both in Finland and globally. Integration is sought to achieve both cost efficiency and to meet the service needs of clients requiring multiprofessional cooperation. This edited volume examines the transformation of healthcare and social welfare services specifically from the perspective of social work.

The research reported in the book dates to the pre-implementation phase of the healthcare and social welfare reform, which prepared for the transition of healthcare and social welfare services to be organized by the new wellbeing services counties. In this preparation, integration, multiprofessional work, and responding to complex client situations were key challenges.

The book's perspective on these challenges is revealed through the grassroots activities of healthcare and social welfare professionals and the encounters between clients and professionals. This distinguishes the book from previous research on the ongoing service integration, which has focused more on structural and administrative issues.