Basics of the Social and Healthcare System (5 cr)

Objective

The students will know the methods of organizing social and health care, providing and organizing services, and case guidance, management and supervision in Finland.
- They will be able to identify the main premises of social policy for the social service system.
- The students will be able to monitor current social services action programs and how the structure of social services is being developed
- The students will know the appropriate public, private sector and third sector services available to clients to promote health and well-being.
- The students will understand the importance of information security in the service process and the employee's responsibility in maintaining information security and data protection.

Other recommended studies: to be discussed with the study counsellor in the personal study plan review

Content

The premises of social and health care (wellbeing and differences in wellbeing, social and health care structure), health services and rehabilitation services, the foundations of social policy, social and health care guidance, funding and monitoring, legislation (overview), current action programs), social security and social services, social welfare and eservice provision, service chain development, secure processing of customer and patient data, general social and healthcare service information and advice provision, targeted counseling, the concept of case management in general, multi-professional work, evidence-based activities

Location and time

The course is studied online in the Reppu learning environment, with additional in-person teaching at Kajaani campus

Materials

Literature:
- Hiilamo, Heikki & Niemelä, Heikki &Pykälä, Pertti & Riihelä, Marjo& Vanne, Reijo. Sosiaaliturva ja elämänvaiheet: Suomen sosiaaliturvan kehitys esimerkkien ja tilastojen valossa
- Zechner Minna (toim.) 2019. Näkökulmia palvelutarpeen arviointiin.
- Sosiaalihuoltolain soveltamisopas. Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö. Julkaisuja 2024:13

As well as materials in the Reppu learning environment

Teaching methods

Orientation lectures (online)
Assignments on the Reppu platform, intermediate tasks, and final exam online
In-person teaching at Kajaani campus:

August 21, 2025, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM, TA12L119
October 9, 2025, 12:15 PM - 3:30 PM, TA12L119
October 10, 2025, 8:00 AM - 11:15 AM, TA12L119
December 12, 2025, 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM, TA12L119

Student workload

The course is worth 5 ECTS credits, equivalent to 135 hours of student work

Evaluation scale

0 - 5

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment: 0 - 5

Further information

The course involves 135 hours of study
Lectures: Online orientation lectures
Contact teaching / exercises / simulations / project: information retrieval exercises using the Internet and in groups, interim assignments and a final multiple choice exam held online.
Literature: Online materials
Assessment 0-5

Objective

The students will know the methods of organizing social and health care, providing and organizing services, and case guidance, management and supervision in Finland.
- They will be able to identify the main premises of social policy for the social service system.
- The students will be able to monitor current social services action programs and how the structure of social services is being developed
- The students will know the appropriate public, private sector and third sector services available to clients to promote health and well-being.
- The students will understand the importance of information security in the service process and the employee's responsibility in maintaining information security and data protection.

Other recommended studies: to be discussed with the study counsellor in the personal study plan review

Content

The premises of social and health care (wellbeing and differences in wellbeing, social and health care structure), health services and rehabilitation services, the foundations of social policy, social and health care guidance, funding and monitoring, legislation (overview), current action programs), social security and social services, social welfare and eservice provision, service chain development, secure processing of customer and patient data, general social and healthcare service information and advice provision, targeted counseling, the concept of case management in general, multi-professional work, evidence-based activities