Anchor work organisation

Anchor work takes place at three levels. At the national level, it is coordinated by the national development group. At the local and regional level, the policies and operating conditions of Anchor work are handled by the local or regional steering group. The leadership team is responsible for the operational management of Anchor work. The work is monitored, assessed and developed at all levels together with different stakeholders. (Figure 4)

Figure 4. Structures of Anchor work management and steering

Figure 4 describes national guidance, local/regional organisation and the structure of the Anchor teams and their day-to-day management among different actors. The figure also describes the job description of the coordinators of national and local/regional Anchor work.

National coordination of Anchor work

National development group

Anchor work is steered at the national level. The development group has representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Education and Culture, the National Police Board, Finnish National Agency for Education, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Police University College and some Anchor teams. The group’s key goal is to coordinate Anchor work and monitor the consistency, availability, quality and effectiveness of the work locally and regionally and to deal with possible defects. In addition, the group arranges training events and makes initiatives for developing Anchor work. The national development group also participates in international collaboration and is responsible for the dissemination of international good practices in Finland.

National coordinator

The national Anchor work coordinator acts under the national steering group. The coordinator is responsible for developing Anchor work nationally in collaboration with the national steering group and local Anchor stakeholders. In addition, the coordinator monitors and assesses Anchor work at the national level and strengthens the competence of professionals and leaders engaged in the work. The coordinator is also responsible for national and international communication related to Anchor work.

Tasks of the national Anchor work coordinator

Development

  • Creates opportunities for standardising national activities: equality and quality of work
  • Coordinates national work
  • Supports local/regional work, e.g. the start-up phase
  • Acts as an expert; e.g. information exchange, preventing radicalisation into violent extremism, partners
  • Coordinates and disseminates information about nationally and internationally good practices
  • Coordinates annual projects, e.g. increasing people’s awareness of Anchor work
  • Responsible for other expert tasks

Follow-up and assessment

  • Assesses and develops Anchor work on the basis of a questionnaire (Anchor stakeholders and their leader) utilised every two years
  • Provides a statistical summary and assessment of Anchor work on an annual basis
  • Monitors reviews of Anchor work
  • Reports on the status of national Anchor work (ministries, National Police Board, regions and municipalities, Anchor stakeholders)

Education

  • Communicates research and evidence-based information in a manner easy to understand and in a format applicable to practical operation
  • Arranges a national seminar (one/year) and participates in local and regional Anchor seminars
  • Plans additional training for Anchor stakeholders, including online courses: legislation and information exchange, multi-professional collaboration, managing a multi-professional team – multi-professional collaboration at the leadership level, preventing radicalisation into violent extremism through multi-professional collaboration

Communication

  • Communicates information between Anchor stakeholders and ministries
  • Communicates information about Anchor work e.g. to the general population, potential collaboration parties and international partners
  • Maintains and updates the Anchor website that is used as a tool in communication, development, training and monitoring

Local and regional work

Anchor steering group

Anchor contributes to addressing local and regional needs to promote the wellbeing of adolescents and prevent crime. Regional Anchor teams are steered by the local or regional steering group appointed to them. The purpose of the steering group is to ensure that promoting the wellbeing of adolescents and preventing crime are prioritised in all areas of operation and are also taken into account in sector-specific action plans. The operation of the steering group secures the commitment to Anchor work and the preconditions for operations in the various fields. The group assesses and monitors the implementation of Anchor work and contributes to its development together with the leadership team and the Anchor team. The steering group convenes 2–4 times per year and more frequently than this if the situation of Anchor work in the area calls for it.

Local and regional steering group and its tasks

Members of the steering group:

  • Representative from the leadership team
  • Municipal or city representatives from social, health, youth and educational services and from the police

Tasks of the steering group:

  • Responsible for the operating policies and focus areas in their area
  • Secures the preconditions in a changing operating environment
  • Monitors and assesses the work
  • Approves the action plan and review
  • Participates in the development of Anchor work

Anchor team management

Leadership team and the coordinating leader

There is a leadership team for Anchor work, consisting of leaders in the fields of competence of the Anchor team professionals. The leadership team manages the Anchor team and is responsible for practical work guidelines. The duty of the leadership team is to secure the preconditions for Anchor work. The team is responsible for monitoring, assessing and developing Anchor work together with the Anchor team. The leadership team helps address challenges in day-to-day work.

Leadership team for Anchor work

Securing preconditions:

  • Responsible for ensuring that Anchor work has adequate resources for carrying out the work
  • Responsible for operative planning and guidelines
  • Responsible for financial planning and monitoring
  • Responsible for reporting and preparing the review in collaboration with the rest of the Anchor team

Supporting collaboration:

  • Supports the implementation of practical work
  • Communicates information to the background organisation
  • Communicates good practices, experiences and information on its stakeholders to the leadership team
  • The leadership team convenes regularly at least 2–4 times a year and otherwise, as required.

HR management:

  • Responsible for HR administration and introduction to the work
  • Enables collaboration by paying attention to shift planning, for example
  • Responsible for maintaining the expertise of professionals
  • Takes care of the occupational wellbeing of the Anchor team

The implementation of Anchor work benefits from the leader being easily accessible and familiar with the special characteristics of the area. The leaders of Anchor work ensure the preconditions of work, support collaboration and the implementation of work, are responsible for HR administration and contribute to developing Anchor work. The leaders act in collaboration with the local or regional steering group.

One of the members of the leadership team is appointed as the team leader. The duty of the team leader is to clarify the multi-professional management structure and strengthen the flow of information and the division of responsibilities. The team leader is also responsible for ensuring the operation of the leadership team and multi-professional collaboration between the Anchor work leaders. They also ensure the flow of information especially between leaders and the Anchor team, as well as address communication needs.

Duties of the coordinating leader

Duties of the coordinating leader:

  • Heads the leadership team
  • Is responsible for managerial work and collaboration between leaders 
  • Ensures the flow of information especially between leaders and the team 
  • Is responsible for coordinating the finances of Anchor work
  • Is responsible for operative reporting to the steering group (and to municipalities participating in Anchor work)
  • Is responsible for internal and external communication in local or regional Anchor work

Group leader

The Anchor team can have a leader responsible for day-to-day work, i.e. a group leader or team leader. One of the Anchor team professionals can be appointed as the team leader. The fluency of work is promoted by the team leader being fully present and accessible in the Anchor team’s day-to-day work. The team leader is responsible for day-to-day work, the provision of support for collaboration and information exchange, as well as HR management and operative development. The team leader contributes to creating a multi-professional work culture and to dealing with difficult issues.

Fields of expertise of the leader (group leader/team leader) responsible for day-to-day work

Day-to-day management:

  • Is responsible for the coordination and organisation of day-to-day activities and for dividing responsibilities
  • Ensures that activities focus on Anchor work and its goals.

HR management:

  • Is responsible for HR administration in day-to-day work
  • Supports the maintenance of the team’s professional skills and occupational wellbeing
  • Takes part in the orientation of new professionals

Support for activities, collaboration and information exchange: 

  • Is responsible for arranging regular team meetings 
  • Acts as a contact towards the leadership team
  • Ensures the flow of information in the Anchor team and between leaders
  • Reports on the work to the leadership team and other agreed parties
  • Helps promote cooperation between social, health and youth services and the police.

Development of Anchor work:

  • Develops Anchor work together with the Anchor team and leaders