The report "The Tricky Social Work 2003 " is based on an extensive national questionnaire on social work in Finland carried out in autumn 2003. The purpose of the survey was to get information on professional practices as well as prospects and structures for the development of expertise in social work. The respondents were picked from the membership register of Talentia, the Union of Professional Social Workers, and altogether 716 persons replied to the questionnaire, out of 1582.

The report gives a good overall picture of the situation of social work and social workers in Finland. According to the questionnaire the mean age of social workers is on a slight increase. The high proportion of persons with the polytechnic degree Bachelor of Social Sciences among the youngest respondents is conspicuous. If employees lack the formal qualifications laid down in the relevant Decree the result is temporary employment relationships and willingness to change workplace, which is a problem of, in particular, municipal social service departments and the smallest, rural municipalities. The constant time pressure as a result of the great number of clients and the scanty resources are factors that cause stress for social workers, which is partly compensated by the satisfaction they get from the work. The respondents saw that their chances of influencing their own work with clients were good, whereas they felt that they cannot influence the prerequisites for their work, its resourcing and development practices. Job satisfaction was on average good, and even those deliberating a change of workplace did not want to leave the social welfare branch but to shift to other jobs in the branch. A conspicuous result was also that the superiors who replied to the questionnaire were clearly more satisfied with their work than other employees, despite their bigger work load - maybe just because of the greater possibilities of influencing their own work.

Measures aiming to develop work were however sporadic in particular in the everyday of small workplaces. Work experience, life experience and professional basic education were according to the respondents the elements that best support their professional development. The methods of social work appear to be very undifferentiated, which is reflected in that 560 respondents called the work methods they use in almost 400 different ways. On the other hand, the major work orientations of social work can be clearly distinguished in the replies: the case work with clients, focus on solutions and resources, and working with networks.

In the views concerning the future as strengths were raised good education and professional pride. The weaknesses, including the low appreciation of the work, low pay and scanty resources, however appear to influence the views to a greater extent. The future prospects could be improved by raising the pay and developing methods and career prospects; otherwise there will be a chronic lack of employees and drain of skills from the branch. The development challenges apply in particular to rural municipalities, social service departments, and young employees who have recently entered the profession. The elements that should be developed most urgently in social work are according to the report to settle issues related to the division of labour between the social workers with a Master of Social Sciences degree and those with a Bachelor degree from a polytechnic, to develop the organisations and leadership, to improve the access to competent and skilled labour force, and to take care that competent new employees stay in the branch. The key issues are to develop the content of the work and to increase he opportunities for career advancement.

Key words: social services sector, social welfare, social work