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.
This wide-ranging survey charted expert opinion on the welfare of Finnish citizens, and on the present state of welfare services. Respondents were managers or management groups of municipal social services, municipal health centres, employment offices, major social and health organizations (voluntary organisations), or local offices of the Social Insurance Institution.
Respondents evaluated the welfare of various population groups, and rated the possibilities of their own organisation/sector to support these population groups (e.g. single-parent families, the unemployed, immigrants, chronically ill persons). Respondents rated the importance of different bodies (e.g. parishes, private social and health enterprises, neighbours) in providing welfare. The role and importance of voluntary organisations (social and health sector) were charted. Public social and health services, employment services, services provided by the Social Insurance Institution, and services provided by private enterprises were evaluated. Respondents were asked whether there had been changes in the services of their sector and what kind of changes. Co-operation between different bodies was surveyed.
Further questions covered whether there is citizen evaluation of services provided. Socio-economic situation of the municipalities was charted. Respondents were asked whether it was possible to provide the services citizens need with the present resources. Impact of the policies adopted by the EU, the government or the municipality were assessed. Changes in staff numbers in their own sector, staff sufficiency, and prevailing working conditions were estimated. Some questions explored public service contracts and the impact of competitive tendering. Other topics covered the situation of persons providing informal care for other people, and whether citizens have to queue for social and health services.
The voluntary organisation questionnaire also carried a set of questions focusing on the activities of the organisation. Questions covered service production, staff, public service contracts, budget, funding, regional and local activities, service feedback, biggest challenges, policies, the role of the organisation etc.
Background variables included the respondent's organisation, occupational status and the location of the organisation.
The Sociobarometer 2004 questionnaire was sent to social administration offices, health centres, and employment offices of all Finnish municipalities (the Åland Islands excluded), to the "full service" offices of the Social Insurance Institution, and to major social and health organisations (voluntary organisations). The questionnaire was addressed to managing directors. A link to the web questionnaire was sent to respondents twice in December 2003, and a paper questionnaire was posted to non-respondents in January.