Towards sustainable employment

Work Ability Coach Minna Lindroos, who started working for the City of Forssa in June, acts as a specialist for the City of Forssa and TyöHäme and as a contact person between the employment area, the municipality and various other actors. 

The Work Ability Coach is part of TyöHäme’s multidisciplinary team, acting as an expert in work ability matters, among other themes.

Minna Lindroos possesses solid professional expertise in work ability challenges, having worked in Southwest Finland with rehabilitation, employment and job seekers who need special support.

“The biggest obstacle to employment is not so much a lack of education, but rather a mismatch between the job seeker’s skill level and the employer’s needs. The number of job vacancies has also been low,” says Lindroos.

“In addition, there may be challenges in the job seeker’s personal life, health, work ability and functional capacity. In these cases, the job seekers need low-threshold assistance in assessing services.”

Multidisciplinary services are available right from the start of the job search.

“We offer a survey of work ability and limitations, which can lead to rehabilitation, for example,” explains Lindroos.

Experts from the labour administration, Kela and Oma Häme are involved in this process.

Tackling problems quickly

 In addition to coordination, the job of the Work Ability Coach involves working with customers.

“Many benefits have been reduced. For example, earnings-related unemployment benefit has been staggered,” says Minna Lindroos.

“This means that basic income and quality of life have often deteriorated. When you lose your finances and your health, either partially or completely, you face a multitude of problems.”

Lindroos stresses the importance of tackling these problems quickly. Nowadays, job seekers are expected to be self-directed. Fortunately, help, guidance and advice are still available. 

In Forssa, Joint Service Point Virtaamo offers low-threshold multidisciplinary service guidance.

Virtaamo provides help for different life situations, and experts from various fields assist with matters related to employment, skills development, social services and work ability, among other things.

“The service point offers advice to working-aged people and immigrants, and Ohjaamo provides guidance to young people.”

“The services are voluntary, free of charge and confidential,” adds Lindroos.

The activities of Virtaamo involve the Fokka Foundation, the City of Forssa, Oma Häme, the Southwest Häme educational federation of municipalities and TyöHäme. Virtaamo is located next to the TyöHäme office at Säästöpankinkatu 2.