ASSESSING CLIENT NEEDS IN THE SERVICE FOR SUPPORTED INDEPENDENT LIVING THROUGH SOCIAL COUNSELING : The Lean-process in Social Services
Vähäpesola, Pauliina (2014)
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014120518583
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014120518583
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this Masters Thesis was to develop an assessment form for evaluating the skills of new clients of the supported living through social counselling service and to evaluate its usability in clarifying the task of the social counsellors providing the service. The LEAN-process was used as a theoretical framework to support the process development of the service by developing the process of starting with a new client.
The assessment form was based on The AblePathaway Skills and Assessment form. However, during the course of the Master´s Thesis it was developed into a version more fitting the specific needs of the social counselling service. The assessment form is to be the basis for making an individual client work plan for each client.
The data on the functionality of the assessment form was gathered using an open group interview. The interview was recorded and written notes were taken during the interview. The gathered data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Reoccurring themes were identified from the data. Suggestions on improving the assessment form were implemented based on the gathered data. The final version of the assessment form has been taken into use in the social counselling service supporting independent living.
The findings of the research showed that the use of the assessment form was found to be beneficial to clarifying the task of the social counsellor with each individual client. It was also found to be useful in clarifying the tasks of the counsellors on a wider scale. The outcome of this Master´s Thesis benefits the services for disabled of the Helsinki municipality directly. The assessment form can be implemented in other areas of the services for disabled in the future. The assessment form will be further developed as a part of the work done in the services for disabled. Along with producing a tool for assessing client needs, this thesis supports the assumption that the LEAN-process can and should be used more widely within the municipal social services of Helsinki city.
The assessment form was based on The AblePathaway Skills and Assessment form. However, during the course of the Master´s Thesis it was developed into a version more fitting the specific needs of the social counselling service. The assessment form is to be the basis for making an individual client work plan for each client.
The data on the functionality of the assessment form was gathered using an open group interview. The interview was recorded and written notes were taken during the interview. The gathered data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Reoccurring themes were identified from the data. Suggestions on improving the assessment form were implemented based on the gathered data. The final version of the assessment form has been taken into use in the social counselling service supporting independent living.
The findings of the research showed that the use of the assessment form was found to be beneficial to clarifying the task of the social counsellor with each individual client. It was also found to be useful in clarifying the tasks of the counsellors on a wider scale. The outcome of this Master´s Thesis benefits the services for disabled of the Helsinki municipality directly. The assessment form can be implemented in other areas of the services for disabled in the future. The assessment form will be further developed as a part of the work done in the services for disabled. Along with producing a tool for assessing client needs, this thesis supports the assumption that the LEAN-process can and should be used more widely within the municipal social services of Helsinki city.