Introduction to the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division

The Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division is responsible for providing wellbeing, health and security for Helsinki residents. We encourage Helsinki residents to take responsibility for their wellbeing, health and security, as well as that of their loved ones. We also provide every Helsinki resident with the assistance they need.

About the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division

The Deputy Mayor of the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division is Daniel Sazonov. He chairs the Social Services and Health Care Committee and is a member of the Helsinki City Board.

The division includes the following four departments: Family and Social Services; Hospital, Rehabilitation and Care Services; Health and Substance Abuse Services; and Rescue Services. The departments have a joint administration.

The Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Committee directs and supervises the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division’s operations. The Committee has two sub-committees.

The Head of the Social Services and Health Care Division is Juha Jolkkonen.

Service packages

The division includes the following four departments: Family and Social Services; Hospital, Rehabilitation and Care Services; Health and Substance Abuse Services; and Rescue Services. The departments have a joint administration.

The Family and Social Services Department manages the social and healthcare services for families with children, school and student healthcare, and the health guidance of young people not involved in schooling or working life.

The Department also provides disability services and adult social work services, grants social assistance, manages financial and debt counselling, provides employment support, and organises rehabilitative work activities and immigrant services.

The Director of Family and Social Services is Maarit Sulavuori, tel. +358 9 310 62401(Link starts a phone call). The Executive Assistant’s phone number is +358 9 310 62402(Link starts a phone call).

Self-monitoring plans (in Finnish)

The Health and Substance Abuse Services Department manages the non-institutional treatment services of primary healthcare, the health guidance of adults at the health stations, outpatient clinic services for internal diseases, emergency services and oral health care.

The Department also provides mental health and substance abuse services for adults, as well as psychiatric specialist medical care services.

The Director of Health and Substance Abuse Services is Leena Turpeinen, tel. +358 9 310 52481(Link starts a phone call). The Executive Assistant’s phone number is +358 9 310 29061(Link starts a phone call).

Self-monitoring plans (in Finnish)

The Hospital, Rehabilitation and Care Services Department manages home care, social and local work with the elderly, support for informal care, service centre operations, day activities and short-term care of the elderly, as well as intensive assisted living services and institutional care of the elderly and people with multiple illnesses.

The Department also manages short-term, rehabilitative hospital treatment, outpatient clinic services for physiatry, geriatrics, neurology and rehabilitation, as well as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy services, and the rehabilitation of veterans.

The Director of Hospital, Rehabilitation and Care Services is Seija Meripaasi, tel. +358 9 310 52482(Link starts a phone call). The Executive Assistant’s phone number is +358 9 310 42618(Link starts a phone call).

Self-monitoring plans (in Finnish)

We provide security and help in times of need. We serve the operations of the Finnish capital and those who live and stay there by assessing the city's accident risks, preventing accidents and minimizing the effects of accidents and emergency situations on people, infrastructure and the environment, as well as by preparing and giving instructions for self-preparedness in various emergency and emergency situations. Our services are accident prevention, rescue operations, first aid and civil protection and preparedness.

The director of the Helsinki rescue service is rescue commander Jani Pitkänen, tel. +358 9 310 30000(Link starts a phone call) and the management assistant's tel. is +358 9 310 30001(Link starts a phone call)

The Social Services and Health Care Division’s Administration is led by Administrative Director Tiina Mäki, tel. +358 9 310 52483(Link starts a phone call). The Executive Assistant’s phone number is +358 9 310 43591(Link starts a phone call).

Health and wellbeing impact assessment is a tool used in decision-making and its preparation to analyse a decision’s impacts from different perspectives. The tool:

  1. highlights the impacts of decisions on health and wellbeing
  2. starts a conversation about the impacts of decisions
  3. improves health equity among the population
  4. highlights the public interest
  5. increases the transparency of decisions

Health and wellbeing impact assessment is part of the normal preparation process in all divisions of the City of Helsinki and is based on legislation.

How is an impact assessment carried out?

The City of Helsinki emphasises the promotion of health and wellbeing in all of its operations. The assessment follows the ‘Health and wellbeing impact assessment in Helsinki’ guide:

Health and wellbeing impact assessment in Helsinki (PDF, in Finnish)

The ‘Health and wellbeing impact assessment in Helsinki’ guide is based on a broad view of health and wellbeing. The City of Helsinki places a special emphasis on assessing the impacts that the decision will have on health and wellbeing inequalities, children, young people, and families with children as well as issues of gender and equality.

Where can I find more information and guidance?

More information and guidance on carrying out health and wellbeing impact assessments is available from Special Planning Officer Tarja Saarinen from the Social Services and Health Care Division, email address:  tarja.saarinen@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program).

 

Social reporting is part of structural social work. The purpose of structural social work is to influence the living environment of Helsinki residents as well as the structures of society and services. Social reporting provides information on social wellbeing and social issues. This information supports management, decision-making, and the planning and development of services.

You can read social reports produced by the Social Services and Health Care Division on the julkaisut.hel.fi website. It compiles publications released by the City of Helsinki.

Read social reports on the julkaisut.hel.fi website (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)