Social care veterans oppose centralisation of services

A group of experienced social care experts has criticised Finland’s wellbeing services counties for sidelining social care, warning that centralising services into large units is incompatible with the sector’s person-centred approach, according to a new publication by the University of Jyväskylä.

The report, based on contributions from seven long-serving professionals, states that cost-cutting and consolidation have weakened social services since responsibility shifted from municipalities to the counties. The experts argue that the counties’ development has prioritised healthcare, particularly specialist medical care, at the expense of social welfare.

The authors—including retired professors Aila-Leena Matthies and Mikko Mäntysaari, alongside former social services directors Marja Heikkilä and Risto Kortelainen—describe themselves as “sote veterans” with decades of experience. None express satisfaction with how social care is organised under the current model.

Matthies, who retired as a professor in early 2025, has previously criticised the counties for reducing local services. She calls the reform’s top-down implementation its greatest failure, stating that it has overlooked the real-world impact on individuals.

The experts also highlight a breakdown in collaboration, noting that social care no longer coordinates effectively with municipal education, employment, housing services, or NGOs. Internally, fields such as disability services, elderly care, and child protection now operate in isolated units.

A government proposal currently before parliament seeks to save €100 million from social care over two years by amending the Social Welfare Act. The ministry claims the changes would allow more flexible, client-focused service provision, but Heikkilä argues this could be achieved under existing legislation.

Kortelainen, who has worked as a substitute gerontological social worker in North Savo, warns that many elderly people face financial strain. He criticises the lack of preparation for the costs of an ageing population, despite decades of discussion, and calls the current state-funded model unsustainable. He suggests social and healthcare services should be financed through a system similar to pension funds to ensure stability.