Sociobarometers, compiled by SOSTE Finnish Society for Social and Health (previously the Finnish Federation for Social Welfare and Health), have been carried out annually since 1991. Various service providers (e.g. local social services, health care centres, employment offices, Social Insurance Institution authorities) evaluate the state of services and changes in welfare of citizens. Some current social policy themes are also included. The FSD collections cover data from 1994.
Respondents in this study were managers or management groups of municipal social services, health centres, employment offices, social and health organisations or local offices of the Social Insurance Institution. Respondents evaluated the welfare of various population groups and their possibilities to enhance it. Respondents were asked whether it was possible to provide the services citizens need with the present resources of the municipalities . They were asked about the changes in the services of their own sector and the effectiveness of these services. The services provided by other sectors and social and health services provided by private enterprises were also evaluated. Respondents were asked to state their opinion on the functionality of the subsistence security systems and on the effects of the unequal income distribution.
Social services managers estimated the economic situation of the municipality and the changes in it during 2001. Respondents were asked to estimate the changes in staff numbers and the staff sufficiency, the mood among employees and whether the municipality was able to take care of its employees' occupational training and development. Respondents' views on the socio-economic situation of the municipalities were canvassed. Some respondents were asked to evaluate whether the steps taken to promote the welfare of various children groups were sufficient. Further questions asked their views on the changes in child welfare, on the possibilities to secure the services children need, and on the significance of child ombudsman services (child advocacy services) on the legal status of children.
Social services and social and health organisation managers were asked to estimate the significance of various parties in providing welfare. Managers named two reorganised services, evaluated the elements leading to it, named who was responsible for these services before and after the reorganisation and evaluated its effectiveness and impacts on the reciprocal working practices. Social services managers answered questions about their co-operation with other concerned parties. Finally, social and health organisations evaluated the significance of the third sector and their own organisation in providing welfare. They were also asked about the organisation's units, areas of focus, geographical area of operations, activities and the usefulness of employment subsidies to the organisation. Background variables include, for example, province and regional variables.
The Sociobarometer 2001 questionnaire was sent to all Finnish municipalities (the Åland Islands excluded). Each municipal social services office received one questionnaire. The employment offices which are administratively separate "full service" outlets and all local offices of the Social Insurance Institution received questionnaires. The health centre questionnaire was sent to those centres that were regarded as separate administrative units. The organisation questionnaire was received by the managers of the most important associations of the social services and health sector.