We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher for the Child Protection Team at THL’s Safety and Protection Unit. The role focuses on child welfare and protection research using the National Social Welfare Monitoring Register
This postdoc position is part of Postdoctoral Programme for Research Institutes in Finland. The Programme is funded from the Finnish long-term research and development (R&D) plan. The Programme recruits 85 new postdoctoral researchers to 12 Finnish government research institutes between 2025 and 2028. The aim of the Programme is to strengthen R&D competence in areas important to society and business. Postdoctoral researchers will drive impactful, high-level research bridging science, industry, and administration. The Programme supports postdoctoral researcher’s networking and mobility between sectors.
The senior researcher’s duties focus on child welfare and protection research, utilizing the National Social Welfare Monitoring Register (Sosiaalihuollon seurantarekisteri). Key areas include the study of child protection open care cases and services, regional differences in service provision, and the examination of client service pathways and the joint use of services. Responsibilities include planning and conducting research, as well as engaging in academic publishing. The role also involves national and international networking, advocacy, applying for external research funding, and other tasks essential to the research project.
THL’s Safety and Protection Unit:
• Conducts research and development in child protection and violence prevention.
• Acts as a specialist agency and provides knowledge-based guidance on child protection and violence prevention.
• Is responsible for organizing certain state-mandated services (shelters, mediation in criminal and civil cases, and the Nollalinja helpline).
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher for the Child Protection Team at THL’s Safety and Protection Unit. The role focuses on child welfare and protection research using the National Social Welfare Monitoring Register
This postdoc position is part of Postdoctoral Programme for Research Institutes in Finland. The Programme is funded from the Finnish long-term research and development (R&D) plan.
The senior researcher’s duties focus on child welfare and protection research, utilizing the National Social Welfare Monitoring Register (Sosiaalihuollon seurantarekisteri). Key areas include the study of child protection open care cases and services, regional differences in service provision, and the examination of client service pathways and the joint use of services. Responsibilities include planning and conducting research, as well as engaging in academic publishing. The role also involves national and international networking, advocacy, applying for external research funding, and other tasks essential to the research project.
THL’s Safety and Protection Unit:
• Conducts research and development in child protection and violence prevention.
• Acts as a specialist agency and provides knowledge-based guidance on child protection and violence prevention.
• Is responsible for organizing certain state-mandated services (shelters, mediation in criminal and civil cases, and the Nollalinja helpline).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts0Fep586ic
• A relevant academic background – such as social sciences, health sciences, or behavioral sciences – is required.
• The doctoral degree must have been completed no more than five (5) years ago. A longer period may be accepted for specific reasons such as parental leave, military service, or civil service.
• Applicants must have experience in using administrative registers for research, handling and analyzing large datasets, and applying relevant methods and software (e.g., R, Stata, SAS or equivalent).
• Knowledge of the child welfare and protection service system is considered an asset.
• This position calls for well-developed interpersonal and cooperation skills.
• The researcher must be able to use English as a research language.
• Flexible working hours that support balancing work, family and leisure time.
• A lunch benefit in our restaurants.
• Access to comprehensive occupational health services and low-threshold mental welfare services that help lighten your mental load through chat and remote reception options. For acute musculoskeletal problems, quick access to an appointment in our direct physiotherapist services.
• Access to sports, culture and welfare benefits andemployer-subsidised commuter ticket.
• Remote exercise sessions organised by our physical activity working group to energise your working days. Available activities include relaxation sessions, body maintenance exercises and yoga.
• Government holiday benefits.
Research Professor
Taina Laajasalo
tel. +358 29 524 7777
email: firstname.lastname@thl.fi
Available for inquiries on 13 Oct between 8:00-16:00 and 14 Oct between 8:00-12:00.
Head of Unit
Joonas Peltonen
tel. +358 29 524 7947
email: firstname.lastname@thl.fi
Available for inquiries on 17 Oct between 10:00-15:00.
Primarily, we request applicants to submit their applications electronically via the Valtiolle.fi service. However, you can also apply for this job by delivering your application to the Registry Office’s postal address. Both the application and the envelope must feature the ID number of the position applied for. The letter must be delivered by the end of the application period.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare registry
P.O.BOX 30
00271 Helsinki
kirjaamo(at)thl.fi
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is a state-owned expert and research institute that affects the lives of all of us. In line with our vision, we are working to ensure that we can all have good welfare.
We are top specialists in health and welfare and our goal is to build a safe and crisis-resilient society where everyone can take care of their own health and the health of their loved ones, use services equally and obtain reliable information.
We promote the health of both people and the environment, as they are inseparably linked to each other. Our views based on research data support decision-making, the development of legislation and the improvement of healthcare and social welfare services.
We are a highly competent, human-oriented and conversational work community, and we all share a passion to influence people’s health and welfare. In fact, many choose to work here precisely because of the impact of our work.
Location
Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki
You can work at one of our following locations
Mannerheimintie 166
00300 Helsinki
Other information of the position
Read more about Tulanet postdoc programme here: https://tulanet.fi/postdoc
Read more about THL as an employer: https://thl.fi/en/about-us/for-jobseekers
We may use a pre-assignment as part of the recruitment process to support candidate selection for interviews.
