School social workers stand by you – low-threshold support for pupils and students
The job of a school social worker is versatile, supporting people in their everyday lives. A school social worker provides pupils and their families with help and support, especially with social problems – be it friendships, family relationships, group dynamics or other everyday challenges. The task of a school social worker is to be an easily approachable professional who helps with everyday problems, both big and small.
Petra Eloranta, who works as a school social worker in our wellbeing services county, says that you can contact school social worker services if, for example, parents notice that their child has problems with friends or other social challenges.
Individual and communal support in cooperation
The work of a social worker can be both preventive and solution-oriented – sometimes discussion and guidance are enough, sometimes lessons or small groups are organised to practice friendship skills or group dynamics, for instance.
“Cooperation with teachers and guardians is essential. Teachers can ask the school social worker to organise thematic lessons or small groups as needed and refer pupils to the school social worker,” Eloranta explains.
Cooperation with family social work and other services is also emphasised in the work of a school social worker. For example, school social workers may refer families to family counselling clinic services and organise joint network meetings to facilitate the transfer of information. This also ensures that the support is as smooth and comprehensive as possible.
“This way, families have no need to explain the same things several times. Instead, professionals exchange information with the family’s permission,” Eloranta emphasises.
A systemic approach to work is continuously developed, and multiprofessional cooperation is particularly important in solving challenging situations.
“Multiprofessional discussions and cooperation are needed to tackle the root causes of problems that younger children may have with aggressive behaviour and self-regulation,” Eloranta says.
Safe dialogue
Trust and confidentiality are integral to the work of a school social worker. Especially in the case of primary school pupils, guardians are often involved. The school social worker agrees on what to reveal to the guardians with the pupil. The obligation to notify only enters into force if there are concerns about the child’s wellbeing.
“The school social worker is bound to secrecy regarding the pupil’s affairs, but their guardians will be kept up to date while respecting the child’s privacy,” Eloranta explains.
The expansion of the Lunna digital services platform from 25 September onward to cover school social worker services will provide new opportunities for secure communications and surveys. In the future, forms can also be filled in Lunna before the first meeting, which will streamline initiating the client relationship.
“Lunna enables secure communications with guardians, young people and other professionals,” says Eloranta.
When communications between parents, students and professionals work well, every child and young person has the opportunity to grow and develop in a safe environment – and that is why the work of school social workers is invaluable.
- Family centre