A Zoom webinar organized by the Ģֱ School of Wellbeing
Time: Tuesday March 4, 2025, afternoon webinar from 13.30 to 16:30 (UTC+2)
Participants: Researchers, policy makers, politicians, practitioners across Europe
“Never change a winning system or replicate a failing one”. This open webinar is designed to share academic research findings to help European national health and welfare service systems learn from each other’s successes and failures.
Since the beginning of the new millennium, welfare states have increasingly faced significant challenges in care, welfare services, and health promotion. Despite the diversity in service providers, financing systems, and staff qualifications, many of these systems find themselves amid multiple crises or on the brink of collapse. The current uncertainties in national political decision-making do not signal any significant improvements.
Until recently, the Finnish welfare state has been seen as a unique success model, providing a comprehensive public service system with highly qualified staff in education as well as in social and health services. However, there seems to be no optimal model that solves all key problems – together with other countries, Finland is now facing the challenges of an aging population, increasing needs, reduced financial resources, and professional staff shortages.
Despite common challenges, the structural differences between countries provide opportunities to learn from each other and avoid repeating mistakes. Researchers play a key role in identifying effective solutions, not just in criticizing weaknesses and failures.
Program
There will be four short presentations (20 minutes each) from four different countries, showcasing examples of well-organized healthcare or social services. Each presentation will be followed by a 5-minute commentary from either a researcher from another country, a policy maker, or a practitioner.
Opening words
- Professor Aila-Leena Matthies, Ģֱ
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‘Making an IMPACT’ – lessons from the UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care
- Jon Glasby, Director of IMPACT (Improving Adult Care Together), United Kingdom
Adult social care services in the UK face a series of very challenging financial, service and workforce pressures. It’s therefore crucial that we focus on evidence of what works – making sure we spend our scarce time and resources on the things that will make the most difference for people and their lives. This session shares insights from IMPACT, the UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care, sharing lessons around evidence, co-production and implementation. More information about IMPACT: .
- Commentary: Anu Pihl, Director of Strategy, Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland
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Why do we need a transformation from the German medical doctor -centered system to Care Share 13 Systemdesign?
- Sonja Laag, Dipl. Health Economist, IPAG e.V. Think Tank (Institute for Care, Aging and Health), Germany
The Bismarckian German Health Care System is historically built on the close relationship between medical doctors and the health insurances (statutory as well private). Thus, the disease/pathogenetic-oriented care misses a health/ salutogenetic approach and the structured integration of regional and local authorities, nursing, therapy and social care by law. Care Share 13 is a new system-type of “Health in all Policies” based on the integration of the different social law codes. The structural concept of this new system model will be presented. More information:
- Commentary: Heikki Hiilamo, Professor of Social Policy, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, and Research Professor, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
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People Are More Important Than Processes: A case manager is crucial in all forms of care integration in mental health.
- Mats Brommels, MD PhD, Professor, Founding Director, Medical Management Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Seamless care is an ideal in healthcare, and service integration across boundaries between health and social care is said to be especially important for people with mental health challenges. Our study compared “structural” versus “functional” service integration with more loose cooperation for persons with chronic mental health problems. Patient experience did not differ between these three organisational arrangements, and for all a case manager – in many cases a relative – was most important for achieving comprehensive services. These insights will be used to discuss health and social care integration more generally. More information in this published article:
- Commentary: Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Steering Committee Chair, , former Director General of Strategy, Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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What enables ‘real social work’ in adult social work?
- Minna Kivipelto, Professor of Practice, Ģֱ, Finland
Through qualitative research conducted within local public welfare agencies, the presentation explores the mechanisms that allow social workers to achieve their ideal professional goals, referred to as ‘real social work’. The lecture highlights the importance of certain mechanisms in enabling social workers to resist managerialism and implement real social work in their practice. It emphasizes the need to prioritize professional aspirations and offers valuable insights for advancing discussions in adult social work. More information in this published article:
- Commentary: Paula Rossi, Senior Researcher, University of Vaasa
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Discussion in digital platform Howspace
What lessons can be learned from each presented example for other countries or areas of welfare services? Why do good practices not always continue or spread? Do you have good ideas to share?
- 10 minutes to reflect and highlight key points or questions to be further discussed
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Summary panel
Chaired by Teppo Kröger, Professor at the Ģֱ and the Director of the Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care
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The webinar is organized by JYU.Well, the multidisciplinary community that brings together well-being and welfare research at the Ģֱ. JYU.Well fosters opportunities for researchers, educators, and other well-being professionals to engage in productive, multidisciplinary collaborations. Currently, the community specifically aims to build an international advisory network of influential researchers to facilitate fruitful interactions and the exchange of ideas across countries.
Read more about JYU.Well from our website
You are warmly welcome to join and spread the information and invitation about this open webinar!
