gms | German Medical Science

Background: The Finnish government’s key project “Career opportunities for people with disabilities” was to increase the amount of people with disabilities in the open labour market. One task of this project was to increase the know-how of professionals in the service system who help the whole working aged population, including people with disabilities. Coordinating the services and changing the way to work requires expertise of professionals [1], [2], [3].

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the new work ability coordinators’ training program on knowledge, solution-centred work style and network of professionals working with people with disabilities.

Method: The participants were 534 professionals, who took part in 21 training courses. The evaluation methods were questionnaires, interviews and participated observation.

Results/findings: The knowledge of the participants concerning the services, means and benefits for people with disabilities increased statistically significantly during the training programme. Furthermore, participants learnt the solution-centred work style and began to use it in their daily work with clients. Networking led to new, individual-based contacts and occasional co-operation between single participants who represented different service providers at the national as well as at the regional level.

Discussion and conclusions: The work ability coordinators’ training programme developed knowledge of means and supports, a solution-centred work style as well as networks of the professionals. After the training, they had better possibilities to guide and advise their clients and to build bridges between different operating practices, client groups and service providers. The results quide the future training programmes as well a policy decisions regarding the know-how needs of professionals working in the service system.