Rehabilitation counselling in specialised medical care consists of support, advice and guidance provided by rehabilitation counsellors for clients, their families and friends when a client's illness or injury causes changes to their everyday life. Rehabilitation counselling for families with children focuses, in addition to the child, on parents and the child's close circle. Rehabilitation counselling is a statutory service available for the client, free of charge and directed to all patients with a long-term condition or injury in specialty care.
Rehabilitation counsellor will discuss various procedures and options with the patient and his or her close circle to determine the ways on which to ease every day pressure. The goal is to have a meaningful life in spite of limitations.
Rehabilitation counsellors are experts in their field of specialty. A rehabilitation counsellor meets their clients in hospital, home, day care, school and other educational establishments, work and institutions. Rehabilitation counselling services vary from one field of specialty to the other. The rehabilitation counsellor can be contacted by the client, his or her family member or friend, or with the client's permission, by a social worker, health care provider or another officer. Rehabilitation counsellors are available every weekday during office hours.
The tasks rehabilitation counsellors do include the following:
- Evaluation and assessment of the client's situation, also in his or her everyday environment when possible.
- Planning of rehabilitation and rehabilitation counselling as well as monitoring the rehabilitation process
- Guidance and advice about accessible services
- Support, advice and guidance regarding the client's illness or injury
- Multi-professional cooperation in matters regarding the client and coordination of services
- Participation in client network meetings
- Participation in initial information and adaptation and adjustment training activities
- Support and assistance with aid services in everyday life environment
- Coordinator and contact for professionals and authorities involved in a client's rehabilitation