Promoting Active Participation in Life

Teija Motturi, the director of social work for people with disabilities, describes their approach as engaging and connecting with individuals in different life situations. 

“Our clients span all age groups, and many of them are long-term clients. Unlike typical social services, our focus is not and cannot be on rehabilitation to the point of eliminating the need for social services,” Motturi explains.

Such long-term client relationships build trust, making the social worker a reliable anchor of support during new or changing life situations. 

“The social worker provides support when accidents or illnesses result in prolonged difficulties. Those who are born with disabilities or medical conditions receive support throughout their lives, enhancing their ability to actively engage and participate in society,” Motturi says. 

Social work for people with disabilities is demanding, given the daily encounters with disappointment, bitterness, death, and the fear of it.

“Sudden, unforeseen life changes are terrifying. One has to adapt to an entirely different lifestyle while managing the emotional weight of the difficulties posed by disability or illness. Dreams and aspirations that were once within reach might become unattainable. In such moments, disability-focused social work extends support not just to the client but also to their families and loved ones, aiding them in coming to terms with the new reality. 

Amidst changing life situations, the role of social work is to support the client and offer expertise in assessing their service needs and determining the services best suited for them. 

“The process of determining service needs is complicated, and these needs change throughout one’s life.” 

The objective of these services is to empower clients to lead lives that resonate with their authentic selves. The intention is never to “over-serve” clients or render them into passive recipients.  

“When assessing service needs, it is crucial to find forms of support that preserve individual autonomy and enable clients to learn new skills and achieve various goals. For example, with the assistance of a support person, one can learn to shop in the grocery store or to use public transportation. Acquiring such skills enhances one’s personal agency in life.” 

In the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, social work for people with disabilities is currently done by eight units in different locations, grouped into three wider service regions. 

The current regional division is as follows: Espoo/Kauniainen/Kirkkonummi; Lohja/Siuntio/Ingå/Vihti/Karkkila; and Raseborg/Hanko. In the future, the number and locations of these units will be reconsidered, and changes are expected. 

Motturi stresses that, for clients, social work for people with disabilities is not restricted to specific locations, municipal boundaries, or regional divisions, as all clients within the Wellbeing Services County are considered shared clients. 

"We have different information systems in use, which somewhat hinder standardised operations, but we have a shared client registry. This means that, for instance, a decision on services for someone living in Lohja can be made from Raseborg.”