The profession of social health is in high demand, both in Italy and in Europe. However, the path to follow this career is not the same in all EU countries. Today we want to dwell on these differences, to understand tasks and requirements of this figure, out of Italy.

First, brief overview of the situation in our country. The work of Italian social and health workers is regulated by the State-Regions Agreement of 2001. Under this agreement, an Italian citizen can become OSS through a specific training course lasting 1000 hours.

OSS: the primacy of Germany

Most favorable conditions to carry out the profession of health care assistant are offered by Germany. The German citizen who wants to pursue this career must be considered physically fit, have more than 17 years and a high school diploma. The internship lasts for about two years, but it is paid monthly at a wage that is around EUR 700 gross. Finish testing and training, the candidate will support a state exam. In case of a positive outcome to the city will be awarded the title of Nursing Assistant.

Same practice in Switzerland, with two years of training divided into 500 hours of lectures and at least six months of training at a health facility.

The Austrian trail is very similar to Italian. While, if the German is the most favorable, the UK instead offers the easiest path. At the court of His Majesty, in fact, there are no special requirements to enter this profession. In some cases, you need not even graduate. Simply, after taking office, attend specific compulsory courses, paid by the employer himself. In the UK, the social health operator figure is equivalent to Auxiliary Nursing.

In France, to become OSS, you can attend the National School of Health and Social Development.

As for the tasks, the differences are minimal. In general, an European OSS  deals with hygienic care, the hospital environment and collecting data on vital signs of patients.

In the UK alone, as previously mentioned, the Health Care Assistant may also play more nursing functions.

OSS, RSA and Outsourcing

The Italian medical social workers  work mostly in Health residences. They are extra hospital structures hosting frail elderly, without family support.

In these environments, to work in an organized way, through qualified professionals, it is absolutely necessary. The incompetence and lack of professionalism would undermine the purposes of RSA. For this reason, more and more healthcare facilities are turning to Outsourcing as a workable solution for the management of its services.

The XI July Cooperative is part of our Consortium. We specialize in providing staff to the various needs in the field of health. As well as the promoter and organizer of training courses.

We also offer home care and support in family homes, in schools, sheltered housing and housing communities.

To find out more, please contact us. In Italy, as in Europe and in the rest of the world, who needs it deserves the best possible treatment.