Special Needs Instructor
A special needs instructor is a social sector professional who works with children, young people, adults or elderly with special support needs. Such needs may include learning difficulties, intellectual disabilities, mental health problems, physical disabilities or other challenges that affect their everyday life or learning. Jobs can be found in the municipalities, organisations and social welfare service providers of wellbeing services counties. This profession requires interaction and cooperation skills, flexibility, perseverance and organisation skills.
Municipalities, parishes, organisations, social welfare service providers, different associations and entrepreneurs in wellbeing services counties.
A special needs instructors must have good interaction and communication skills, as the work often involves people who may have a variety of communication challenges. A special needs instructor must be able to adapt their communication style to the needs of their clients and to recognise their feelings and needs. A special needs instructor must be able to understand and respond to each client’s individual needs. They must be able to plan and implement activities that support the client's everyday life and help them develop skills that promote their independent functional capacity and well-being.
Special needs instructors must also have a mastery of different guidance and support methods, which may be necessary especially when working with persons with learning difficulties, intellectual disabilities or mental health problems. Special needs instructors must also be able to motivate and inspire participants of different ages in guided activities.
The ability to cooperate with other professionals, such as teachers, therapists and social workers, is also emphasised in the profession of specialised instructor. This requires teamwork skills and an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different professionals. In addition, it is important for a specialised instructor to be able to observe, assess and report on the progress of their clients.
A special needs instructor must be flexible, empathetic and responsible, as the work often involves challenging situations. Special needs instructors must continuously develop their competence and keep up to date with the practices in the field.
A Vocational Qualification in Education and Guidance may be completed in vocational upper secondary institutions. The qualification title is child instructor, youth and community instructor or communication and sign language instructor. You can also complete a Specialist Qualification in Rehabilitation, Support and Guidance Services (Special Needs Instructors for People with Disabilities, Specialists in Rehabilitation Counselling for the Visually Impaired or Job Coaches).
A Vocational Qualification in Social and Health Care can be completed at vocational upper secondary institutions, with a specialisation in the education and care of children and youths. The qualification title is practical nurse. It is also possible to complete a vocational qualification through an apprenticeship. After gaining professional skills, a further Vocational Qualification in Education and Guidance can also be completed in the competence area of education or guidance.
A Bachelor of Humanities, Community Educator, Outdoor and Adventure Education can be completed at universities of applied sciences. A Bachelor of Social Services degree can also be completed at universities of applied sciences.
The employer has the right to request a criminal record extract if desired (Act on Checking the Criminal Background of Persons Working with Children, 504/2002).
Median salary
2880 €/mo
Private sector
2858 €/mo
Public sector
2890 €/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