ABSTRACT

Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Degree programme in Health Promotion Degree programme in Rehabilitation ______________________________________________________________

Authors: Marita Kuure and Hanna Laurila Title: An electronic welfare reporting tool for an organizer of vocational education. Welfare reporting as a support tool for the organization, management and work in welfare work in Oulu Vocational College. Supervisors: Principal lecturer, PhD Hilkka Honkanen and Principal lecturer, PhD Arja Veijola Term and year: Spring 2013. Number of pages: 77 + 11 appendices ______________________________________________________________

Background and purpose: The Healthier Northern Finland project has developed an electronic tool for welfare reporting for municipalities. The purpose of the development task was to create a similar electronic welfare report tool for the Oulu Vocational College. The purpose was also to increase the usage of welfare data and to increase co-operation with municipalities. Material and methods: The material was gathered with multiple methods. The material was analyzed with content analysis. The evaluation was based on a realistic method of evaluation. Results: As a result, an electronic welfare report tool was created for the Oulu Vocational College. The information required for creating an electronic tool as well as information already existing in the organization were charted. The existing information was transferred into suitable form to be included into the electronic tool. The nationwide indicator packages gathered in the Healthier Northern Finland 2 project were also used, insofar as they were applicable in the field of vocational education. During the work, it was noted that there were deficiencies in data gathering and instructions required updating. Conclusions: The development task was topical. Youth wellbeing and the prevention of social exclusion have been discussed in Government policies. Developing student care is discussed increasingly. The welfare report tool provides a basis for these planning and development tasks. Gathering the information was also important for revealing the amount of available information as well as possible points for improvement. Benefitting from the results: The welfare report tool is used in the Oulu Vocational College throughout their organization of work. Other organizers of education and stakeholders gain second hand benefits from the results. ______________________________________________________________

Keywords: Youth wellbeing, welfare report, vocational school