TOIMIA RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONING AND WORK ABILITY DURING THE INTEGRATION PHASE.

1. RECOMMENDATION FOR THE
ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONING
AND WORK ABILITY
DURING THE INTEGRATION PHASE
Shadia Rask, Misha Henriksson,
Heidi Anttila, Hannamaria Kuusio
National expert group for assessing and measuring functioning

2. 11.3.2020
Purpose of the recommendation
• Recommendation applies to all working age immigrants who are entitled to
an integration plan based on the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant
Integration.
• This recommendation is particularly intended for professionals who
assess immigrants’ functioning and work ability as part of an initial
assessment
• The recommendation may also be utilised in other applicable
contexts, for example in social and health care services or public
employment and business services.

3. 11.3.2020
The aim of the recommendation
• Provide instructions on how the assessment of functioning
and work ability should be performed during the integration
phase.
• Favour early and systematic assessment of functioning and
work ability during the integration phase.
• Recommendation describes the measurement instruments
and methods used for both clinical and research work
and for which several language versions are available.

4. 11.3.2020
We recommend that:
1. The assessment of functioning and work ability should be performed using methods
that are linguistically and culturally appropriate.
2. The assessment of functioning and work ability should aim at so-called shared
expertise, which involves both the client and the professional bringing their special
competence to the assessment situation.
3. The assessment of functioning and work ability should be comprehensive. It should
pay attention to both individuals’ language skills, education and work history as well
as their physical, mental, social and cognitive functional ability, coping with the
activities of daily living, and environmental factors affecting functional ability.
4. The assessment of functioning should be systematic and lead to the necessary
further measures and case management.