Pikassos - In English

Pikassos Ltd - The Centre of Excellence on Social Welfare in the regions of Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Satakunta is a network organization to provide cooperative structure for developing basic and specialised services within the social sector. We are part of the national network of 10 Centres of Excellence, from which one Centre is designed for the Swedish speaking population in Finland.

As a network organisation we are working closely together with the wellbeing services county and providing forums for social welfare professionals and other partners. We get a permanent state financing (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health). The function and responsibilities of the Centres of Excellence on Social Welfare are defined in the Act 1230/2001. The tasks are to secure:

  • Development and transfer of expertise needed in the social welfare sector

  • Development of basic services and guarantee advanced services that require special expertise

  • Promote regional and provincial cooperation and strengthen the connection between the practical work, research and education.

Our development projects originate from the requirements in the practical work and from the needs of the citizens. We share development results through network meetings and training sessions. We also provide tools and give consultation in the development of the documentation and evaluation. We coordinate different networks of social welfare professionals, education system researchers and professionals, not forgetting civic sector NGOs in the field.

Pikassos is a non-profit company (Ltd) and was founded in 2001. The shareholders are the wellbeing services counties Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Satakunta.

The key partners are the wellbeing services counties Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Satakunta, municipalities, University of Tampere (School of Social Sciences and Humanities), Polytechnics: HAMK University of Applied Sciences, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak-Pori) and social welfare NGOs together.

We have development projects in the following

  • Adult social work

  • Child welfare

  • Practise research

  • Early childhood education and care

  • Support for Children and family services

  • Welfare services for elderly people

  • Welfare services for intoxicant abusers and mental health care

Contact Information

Tuula Tuominen
Managing director
Gsm. +35850 5315 439
tuula.tuominen(at)pikassos.fi