Qualifications: Sosiaali- ja terveysala

Holders of the vocational qualification in social and health care have broad basic skills for various professional tasks, both more specialized competence and the professional skills required by working life in at least one area of working life.

Practical nurses or emergency practical nurses (BLS) who have completed a vocational upper secondary qualification are able to act in accordance with industry regulations and operating guidelines, as well as values and professional ethics. They know how to deal with the client and the patient and maintain and promote health, well-being, inclusion, and functional capacity in their area of responsibility. They are able to work according to patient and customer safety regulations, operate infection-safe and ergonomically, use evidence-based information and take care of their occupational safety and well-being. They know how to plan, implement, and assess nursing care that promotes the health of the client´s or patient´s. In their work, they are able to take into account the threat of violence and the challenges related to mental health, substance abuse and addictions. They are able to provide customer-oriented service guidance, make versatile use of well-being technology and develop their own professional skills in accordance with lifelong learning. They are able to act in professional interaction and prevent and tackle bullying. They are able to take into account the diversity of people, act in a multi professional and multicultural manner. In addition, they are able to work in different social and health care environments or teaching and education.

In the competence area in elderly care and rehabilitation, they know how to work in promoting inclusion, rehabilitation and functional capacity, taking into account the effects of ageing on activities at home and in other work environments. Students who have completed the competence area of children's and youth education and care contribute to the health and well-being of the child, adolescent, family and the local network, as well as the growth, well-being and learning of the child in early childhood education. Students who have completed competence in the field of mental health and substance abuse work are able to work in mental health and substance abuse work and do client and network work in the field. Students who have completed basic life support (BLS) will promote health, safety, well-being and functional capacity, as well as actions in emergency care and acute care. Students who have completed their expertise in the field of nursing care will promote the health and functional capacity of the client as well as work in home care and hospital. The person who has completed the competence field of oral care is able to act in oral care and promote oral health. Students who have completed the skills in disability work contribute to the inclusion of the disabled and maintain and promote functional capacity.

The optional vocational units provide deeper expertise for different sectors of activities in social and health care, for example in the use of well-being technology in the maintenance of functional capacity, end-of-life care, taking samples, mental health and substance abuse work for different client groups, immobilization and perioperative nursing care, working in multi-patient and major accident situations, and oral and foot care.

The work of a holder of further vocational qualification in mental health and intoxicant abuse welfare work is professional work with clients in preventive work, rehabilitative work, or work involving treatment, promoting recovery, reducing harms, or supporting housing services in the social and health care sector.

The compulsory units of further vocational qualification in mental health and intoxicant abuse welfare work provide capabilities for professional work with clients in mental health, and intoxicant abuse welfare work with clients as well as their local community and family networks.

The optional units have been structured so that in order to complete them, students must have first mastered the contents of the compulsory units of the further qualification in mental health and intoxicant abuse welfare work. The optional units advance and expand the students' competence and provide capabilities for working with clients, actors and communities using different tools and approaches.

Qualification holders base their work on ethically sustainable principles. Qualification holders know how to work in a customer-oriented manner with respect to human beings. In their work, they are able to use the knowledge base and work methods of the field as well as utilise their knowledge of the legislation and service system of the industry.

Qualification holders are able to justify the decisions and choices they make in their work and assess the impacts of these decisions as members of a multiprofessional work community. Qualification holders know how to look after their well-being at work and use work instruction and training for support in their work. In order to develop the quality of their work, qualification holders need capacity and willingness to engage in continuous assessment of their own and their work community's activities, self-development, and internal entrepreneurship.

Qualification holders who have completed the competence area of personal assistance are able to work as personal assistants of clients who need an assistant because of a disability or illness. They assist the person using personal assistance in the daily activities, work and studies, hobbies, participation in society or the maintenance of social interaction. When providing assistance, they know how to follow the instructions given by the person using personal assistance, respecting the right to self-determination and the choices made by the person. Depending on the units they have chosen, qualification holders who have completed the competence area of personal assistance know how to support the interaction and communication of a person with a disability in everyday situations, use plain language and communication methods that replace speech, and support cooperation with the family and other people close to the person with a disability.

Instructors of persons with intellectual disabilities (FQ) who have completed the competence area of intellectual disability services know how to work in different operating environments, promoting the right to self-determination in cooperation with the person with a disability, people close to them and a multiprofessional team. They can work focusing on the individual, enabling the person with a disability to make their own choices and decisions. Qualification holders who have completed the competence area of intellectual disability services know how to support social and societal participation and inclusion. Qualification holders who have completed this competence area support functional capacity and learning according to individual needs. They know how to promote the interaction and communication of a person with a disability in everyday situations and use plain language and communication methods that replace speech. Qualification holders who have completed this competence area promote wellbeing and safety at work with their activities. Depending on the units they have chosen, qualification holders who have completed the competence area of intellectual disability services have acquired in-depth competence in work with the families of persons with disabilities and other people close to them or in the use of sociocultural working methods.