Social reports illustrate issues in residents' daily life

Social work professionals regularly report on phenomena they observe in their customers’ everyday lives, meaning topics related to social welfare and social problems. The reporting can be used to systematically collect information that highlights issues such as gaps in official services. Those who work with customers often notice these gaps and shortcomings, which is extremely valuable information, as it cannot be obtained from other sources, such as data systems.

The reports by family centre services have identified several issues in our wellbeing services county, such as the following:

• Increase in different forms of violence
• Challenges in schoolwork
• Service availability issues
• Problems in supporting parents and children in difficult divorce situations.

In addition to these, the reports have highlighted challenges related to parenthood and upbringing and problems related to parents’ coping.

We are now using the information produced by the reports in service design for the first time, and this process is being actively developed. The issues highlighted in the reports are very diverse, which is why a variety of measures is also needed to solve them. Information on the issues is enriched with information obtained from customer data systems and experts by experience. We are also examining how information can be shared and enriched between other internal operators.

Social reports have served as a basis for discussion in the Family Centre services, for example in the City of Espoo cooperation forums. The reports can also provide additional information for ongoing projects and initiatives. The report content is also used as background information for new project applications.

Professionals can also make their own suggestions to address the issues in the reports. They have emphasised the importance of multiprofessional cooperation and information sharing, both for residents and the professionals who work with families.

Niittykumpu Family Centre is currently carrying out a pilot project to test how local issues can be addressed multiprofessionally. Professionals from maternity and child health clinics, family counselling centres, family social work, and child welfare participate in discussions on various topics. In addition to social reports, the discussions have also yielded shared understanding of the issues and other professionals' services.

The discussion on the issues has resulted in things like the 'Phone-free Zone' sign that is used in the premises of Niittykumpu Family Centre. In this case, it was perceived as a problem that parents focus on smart devices in such a way that their child may not get any attention when visiting the family centre premises. Interaction with a child is very important, and professionals saw the need to support the parents by giving them a discreet reminder in the waiting room in connection with appointments.

The staff estimate that the sign seems to have had an impact in that customers take their smartphones out less often than before.

The Social Welfare Act (1301/2014, section 7) requires that information on social welfare and problems be communicated and that social welfare expertise be utilised to promote wellbeing and health through structural social work. Social reporting is one way of carrying out structural social work. Structural social work has three key purposes: to produce information on the needs of customers and the impact of social services, propose measures to prevent and remedy social problems, and make social welfare expertise part of the planning and cooperation of other sectors of municipalities and wellbeing services counties.