Handbook on emergency planning in social services. Helsinki 2008. 68pp. (Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, ISSN 1236-2050, 2008:12) ISBN 978-952-00-2603-5 (PDF). The publication (in Finnish) is only available on the Internet in pdf format.

The handbook provides the framework for how the municipal social services should be prepared for emergency situations and for drawing up the emergency plan for unanticipated and abnormal situations. Emergency preparedness is a statutory obligation for the local authorities and municipal social services.

The handbook is divided into five chapters. The first of them describes the purpose of the handbook and presents the most important concepts used in emergency preparedness planning. The second chapter deals with background information needed in emergency preparedness. Those are the statutory basis for emergency preparedness, actors of the public administration at the national, regional and local level, and their duties, responsibilities and powers. Furthermore, this chapter presents the relevant voluntary organisations, assistance provided by the churches, and resources of the Finnish Defence Forces and the Border Guard to support the civil society. Finally, attention is given to the increasing private service provision, whose role should not be disregarded in preparedness planning.

The third chapter describes the tasks that are vital in emergency preparedness and planning and in maintaining the preparedness, as well as the situations that the preparedness concerns. In the fourth chapter the focus is on duties that the municipal social services are responsible for. Those are divided into two groups, which are ensuring the continuance of own operations and special duties assigned to the social services in abnormal situations. The first group comprises securing the continuance of the social services provision and the payment of social assistance, as well as ensuring that the emergency preparedness of the specific units is managed appropriately. The second group covers preparedness for organising the accommodation, catering services and clothing possibly needed in special situations. This group also covers preparedness for participating in the provision of psychosocial support and services.

The fifth and the last chapter provides instructions for drawing up an emergency preparedness plan. It deals with the necessary phases of work and the essential content of the emergency preparedness plan. An example of the framework of an emergency plan is appended.

Key words: emergency conditions, preparedness planning, resources, risks, risk analysis, risk control, social services