Kiri

Revised Application
Objective
The purpose of the proposed study visit is to gain deeper insights into the Finnish model for professional support in the social sector. One of the project’s key objectives is to modernize and establish a comprehensive training and support system for social sector professionals in Estonia. Learning from Finland, whose culture and systems have similar elements to Estonia’s, will provide valuable input for achieving these goals.
Focus Areas
The Finnish model is based on three key pillars:
1. Psychosocial support – employee well-being (individual and collective), crisis management, and work supervision.
2. Professional development and support – continuous learning at individual and organizational levels, and joint reflection practices.
3. Leadership, mediation, and supervision – strengthening organizational culture and recognizing the value of work and workers.
Planned Activities
Initial contacts were established with Kerava’s social and education departments, but stronger cooperation has since developed with institutions in Kotka and Helsinki, where the professional support model is actively applied. The visit will therefore be carried out in those two cities.
The program will include meetings with professionals at different levels: frontline social workers, institutional leaders, and local government officials responsible for social services. The visit will last up to five days, providing sufficient time to observe practical implementation and identify elements transferable to the Estonian context.
Participants
• 3 representatives from ESTA.
• Up to 3 representatives from the Social Insurance Board
All are directly engaged in achieving the program’s objectives.
Expected Outcomes
• Better understanding of the Finnish professional support model.
• Identification of practices suitable for adaptation in Estonia.
• Strengthened capacity of project partners through direct knowledge exchange.
• Broader representation of the topic within Estonia’s social sector and guiding the implementation of the project’s goals.
Budget
The estimated cost of the study visit is 5,000 EUR, with a maximum of 7,000 EUR. The additional 2,000 EUR is due to the increased number of participants, the inclusion of two locations, and the longer proposed timeline suggested by the Finnish program organizers.