Best for Northern Savonia Project

According to the VOIMALA vision the goal is in a new way of working

To reach this goal employees of social and healthcare sectors are trained to use art and culture-based methods in their work, and knowhow acquired through previous employment, professions and hobbies. In addition, the interests and skills of the clients and inhabitants are taken into consideration in planning and executing the work. In this way work becomes more meaningful, well-being at work increases and the job appeal strengthens. The well-being of employees has an impact on the well-being of the clients and inhabitants, and the new kind of working increases the professional well-being of work communities.

Educational advancement

Best for Northern Savonia Project was started already in January 2019 when 15 social and healthcare companies started updating education. The educational unit consists of start-up info and nine training sessions. The business infos took place in spring 2019 and the training sessions in autumn 2019.

In autumn 2019 the project grew with new participants: 23 units of care services for the elderly and special needs residential services of the City of Kuopio. The start-up infos for them took place in autumn 2019 and the training sessions in January 2020. A total of 90 employees from social and health-care sectors took part in the trainings.

The teaching personnel of the educational organizations taking part in the project are also offered training in using methods of art and culture, encouraged to utilize their own diverse known-how and objects of interest in their work, and urged to guide their students to be creative in their work. The training of the teachers include three multi-professionally realized training days in autumn 2020.

The training which is offered to units of social and healthcare as well as educational organizations will be formed into packages of updating education to be offered later. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the educational package will be planned to be offered virtually as well.

Tight collaboration

Best for Northern Savonia Project has a tight collaboration with other projects of similar themes in the region. Over-regional object of development is the Best for East network of collaboration. It aims to support overall well-being of people in Eastern Finland as well as enhance the attraction, sustainability and vitality of the region.

The evaluation study which is done for the project will examine the effects of the new way to work on personnel, clients and educational staff. In addition, an article is being written on the activity for a doctoral dissertation in the University of Eastern Finland, as well as a thesis for the University of Applied science.

A variety of collaboration takes place between the educational organizations participating in the project. Through teacher exchange knowledge is transmitted and enhanced between different fields and educational levels. In addition, the project develops degree education multisectorally, and new educational products which unitize art and culture based methods are designed. Training is planned and executed both in collaboration between different institutes and for specific institutes.

Additional information

Information on the activity of the Best for Northern Savonia Project is given on the internet pages of the collaborating organizations and Voimala as well as in regional publications and networks, in the Best for East networks, in the newsletter of Taikusydän, and in social media.

The project’s wealth is to get experts of different fields to share their knowledge. Teachers and students of various institutes as well as social and healthcare personnel participate in the collaboration, and this way the project has wide influence on work methods and the everyday life of the clients. The new way of working is being fulfilled.

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