Nurse for persons with intellectual disabilities
Nurses for persons with intellectual disabilities work with people with disabilities at home, in outpatient care, institutions and disability organisations. Their tasks include supporting and guiding persons with disabilities in their daily activities and home care. The challenging work with persons with disabilities requires interaction skills and the ability to encounter disability and diversity.
Operating units of wellbeing services counties, private service providers, disability organisations and foundations such as housing units, work and activity centres, sheltered housing, family homes, day care, schools, care institutions and the Social Services Agency.
Browse job postings: Nurse for persons with intellectual disabilities
Nurses for persons with intellectual disabilities are required to have the ability to encourage the social inclusion of persons with disabilities and maintain and enhance their functional capacity. The profession also requires knowledge of different therapies and alternative communication methods. The ability to encounter disability and diversity is also required. In addition, identifying and understanding mental health problems is a skill needed in the profession.
Interaction skills are important, as are cooperation skills, as the work is carried out in a multi-professional team. The work also includes cooperation with families and other partners. Skills in visual expression, crafts, physical activity and music are useful in organising activities.
The work may be physically demanding, so it is important to keep fit. It is also important to be familiar with ergonomically correct lifting and transfer techniques.
In vocational education and training, you can complete the Vocational Qualification in Social and Health Care with the competence area of care for the disabled (practical nurse) and the Further Vocational Qualification in Intellectual Disability Services. It is also possible to complete the Specialist Vocational Qualification in Rehabilitation, Support and Guidance Services.
You can train for the profession of a social counsellor by completing a suitable university of applied sciences degree in social services and health care, such as the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sociology (AMK), Elderly Care, Bachelor’s degree (AMK) and Rehabilitation Supervisor, Bachelor’s degree (AMK).
The eligibility criteria for social services are specified in the Act on Social Welfare Professionals.
Median salary
2910 €/mo
Private sector
2704 €/mo
Public sector
2962 €/mo
The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.
Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries