The employment authority prepares the assessment of skills and the need for integration services for immigrants who are registered as unemployed jobseekers.
The municipality prepares the assessment for:
- persons referred to in section 2, subsection 3 or 4 of the Integration Act, i.e. beneficiaries of international protection and their family members;
- persons receiving social assistance on a non-temporary basis;
- persons receiving child home care allowance;
- immigrants who entered Finland as unaccompanied minors;
- victims of human trafficking;
- persons otherwise in need of assessment.
The assessment may be prepared for immigrants who were issued with their first residence permit or residence card or whose right of residence was registered no more than three years previously. Victims of human trafficking are an exception here, as the assessment may be prepared for them later than within three years if they can be reached to be given access to integration services only after the expiration of the time limit.
The wellbeing services county takes part in preparing the assessment when the immigrant needs services that require coordination of the services of the municipality/employment authority and the wellbeing services county. Preparing the assessment may be of particular relevance in respect of persons who arrived in Finland as quota refugees or as unaccompanied minors or who are victims of human trafficking.
Immigrants may also request an assessment or they may be the subject of a contact referred to in section 9 of the Integration Act made with the authorities in order to initiate an assessment of the need for services. The authority to which the request is directed determines if there is a need for the assessment.
The underlying premise of the Integration Act is to reach immigrants and to refer them to services and measures promoting integration. The reason for the issuance of the residence permit or the duration of the residence permit, for example, should not restrict access to the assessment.
Determining the need for an assessment is also important in respect of the following immigrants:
- persons arriving in Finland as students or workers;
- persons arriving in Finland as spouses who are not employment services customers;
- minors arriving in Finland at comprehensive school age;
- older persons arriving in Finland.
Based on the assessment, the immigrant may be referred to the appropriate services (e.g. municipal basic services, employment services, services of other authorities, third-sector activities available in their area of residence). This makes it possible to promote the integration of the customer even when it is found that they are not in need of an individualised integration plan.
The assessment may nonetheless be waived when it deemed manifestly unnecessary. This is the case, for example, when the immigrant has independently enrolled in activities promoting integration or due to the period of time spent in Finland, they have acquired adequate language skills and the skills required in society. The assessment may also be waived in respect of unaccompanied minors when their service needs can be met by means of another customer plan.
Read more:
Government Decree on the Assessment of Skills and Integration Service Needs (in Finnish)
