Essi Rovamo

I am a project researcher in the “Promoting Evidence-based Practice in Social Work (NÄPSÄ)” project devoted to enhancing how social workers use evidence-based practices to help those in need. This project is funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health with a state grant for university-level research in social work. NÄPSÄ research project executes three work packages:

1. We investigate evidence-based practice’s perceptions and knowledge base by performing scoping reviews and interviewing social work managers.
2. We evaluate the learning and implementation of evidence-based practice in social work students.
3. We will carry out and evaluate an education pilot for social workers.

For anyone interested in the intersection of research and practice, I invite you to explore more about NÄPSÄ on our UEFConnect page.

In addition to this project, I am writing my doctoral thesis on the Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. My research focuses on understanding the social risks of psychiatric patients. My data consists of 200 patient medical records from 2010 to 2019. By employing qualitative and quantitative methods, I aim to uncover how various social conditions contribute to mental health issues and influence the well-being of these patients.

Throughout my career, I have been involved in several developmental projects in gerontological and health social work. I have broad expertise in structural social work, learning practices, and project work. For example, I have developed gerontological social work to meet the Social Welfare Act (2014/1301) obligations for clients with complex needs. I was also part of the pioneering pilot program for the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, a groundbreaking approach that rehabilitates people with severe mental health problems to work life. In addition, I have been a coordinator of TYÖOTE-model, a collaboration between occupational health care and public health care. My expertise centers around themes of social and healthcare integration, effectiveness, and sustainability—topics that are crucial as we strive to enhance the well-being of vulnerable people.