Men in health
Men in health is a starting point for a Swedish variant of the successful Norwegian model ”Menn i Helse,” where the question has been posed, ”Are you man enough for a job in healthcare?”.
About the project
The healthcare and social care sector needs more educated, motivated, and engaged employees in the coming years, of course both men and women. ”Menn i helse” has become a success in Norway for 10 years, in this project the success keys were used to develop the concept in Sweden.
The project Men in health was a social fund project where unemployed men were given the opportunity to train as nursing assistants and be included in an otherwise strongly female-dominated sector. The participants' ambition level was high. The training provided the men with good professional skills but above all an insight into how important it is to collaborate, to speak well of their profession, and to have respect for the user. The profession is largely about supporting, encouraging, coaching, and inspiring each other in the workplaces. The men who completed the training did so with pride and confidence that they have many years of value creation ahead of them in the role of nursing assistants.
The voluntary sector was also engaged in the project as part of the work with norms and gender equality. The hope is that the project leads to increased attractiveness and status for the profession, but also that it promotes gender equality and long-term sustainable working conditions.
The project:
”With the right education and guidance, more can be given the opportunity to become a strong resource, feel good, and be part of the important work that is needed every day, year-round, in healthcare and social care.”
The project's implementation
During the course of the project, information meetings were organized and contacts were made with about 80 men who expressed interest in participating. After interviews and conversations, 15 men began training as nursing assistants alongside team-building social activities to empower them to take on an important professional role after the project period.
The project has reached men in five of Sjuhärad's municipalities, and these men were unemployed or on sick leave when they started their training. Nine of the men completed the training, while the others dropped out early for various reasons – including due to offers of full-time work. The men who completed the examination have developed into confident and caring nursing assistants with knowledge that also strengthens their future colleagues.
None of the participants would have chosen to train as nursing assistants if it weren't for the opportunity to do so in this form. In total, the project has contributed to creating 15,480 employment hours on an annual basis.
In addition to training, the project arranged visits from surrounding regions as well as from Norway, and much effort has been devoted to spreading knowledge. A strong hope is that the concept will be further disseminated now after the project's conclusion.
A norm-breaking project
Sjuhärad has a need for long-term sustainable skills supply. It is particularly perceived as difficult to recruit trained staff for care and nursing professions in rural areas. An equal workplace becomes a more sustainable workplace, and competent staff of both genders is needed so that everyone in need can access care and nursing services.
The project was adapted to the participating men's conditions. Some have, in accordance with the method's design, completed their training prematurely, while others have been well included in an otherwise strongly female-dominated sector. It is clear that the participating men, in addition to undergoing training, have acted as important messengers to change norms, both in the media and in the workplaces they have been to.
The board's decision justification
After the application was submitted and presented in LAG, as well as an interview with the applicant, scoring in the selection criteria showed that the project aligns well with the strategy. The project is a health-promoting project with social sustainability, which is expected to lead to increased gender equality and attitude changes in a female-dominated profession.
About the project
Project period
2020-2023
Project owner
Sjuhärad's coordination association
Project Manager
Anna Fagefors
anna.fagefors@sjusam.se
The project in the media
P4 Sweden's radio Sjuhärad 2021-12-01: “Men in Health” aims to attract men to healthcare.
Borås Tidning 2021-11-23 (Subscribers only): They will guide men into healthcare professions
P4 Sweden's radio Sjuhärad 2020-08-24: Pilot project in Borås to bring more men into healthcare
About the financing
Leader support paid out
956,428 SEK
Co-financing from another party:
–
Total financing
956,428 SEK
In addition to the above, the project has contributed with volunteer engagement valued at 7,920 SEK.
Granted support from Leader Sjuhärad consists of funds from the EU, Sjuhärad's municipalities and the state.
Incoming EU funds have been granted from:
The Social Fund
