Social welfare

Valvira is Finland’s national supervising authority on social welfare and it cooperates with six regional administrative agencies that have primary responsibility on supervising social care in their own region. All six agencies have similar duties in fields like healthcare and social welfare but they differ in actual geographical scope of jurisdiction.

Valvira handles welfare-related supervisory cases when they are of nationwide importance and matters of principle; other complaints are handled by the six agencies. In cases Valvira handles, Valvira’s resolution will act as a precedent that will set an example for regional administrative agencies they can follow in processing similar cases.

Among Valvira’s responsibilities is to direct the regional administrative agencies so that the guidance and supervision they give on social welfare is harmonised throughout the country. Jointly with the agencies, Valvira prepares different national supervisory programs on welfare to be used, for example, in elderly welfare, child welfare and substance abuse care.

Permanent experts on social welfare

To support supervision and guidance of social welfare, Valvira employs permanently external social welfare experts. If required, the some 50 experts issue opinions also to regional administrative agencies and their statements are used for example when handling appeals.