Functional assistance is granted by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) to disabled and visually impaired people who are starting jobs or apprenticeships, and who need practical assistance during their workday to start or keep a job.
This is assistance in the workplace
A functional assistant can assist with tasks such as reading and writing, driving, carrying, going on work trips, attending meetings and helping at mealtimes. By choosing functional assistance from Uloba – Independent Living Norge, you gain access to extensive experience. You become part of a community, and you get good training and follow-up.
Uloba has employer responsibility for assistants. Uloba also takes responsibility for advice and training, facilitates good work leadership and reports to NAV.
The employee recruits his/her own assistants
The division of responsibility between employees with functional assistance and employers:
Employees and job applicants:
- Send application for a functional assistant to NAV
- Recruit and train the assistants and function as their work leaders
- Manage the number of hours worked in relation to the administrative decision
See NAV’s website on functional assistance.
Employers:
- Own the functional assistance scheme, but authorise Uloba to act on their behalf
- Cooperate with Uloba on running the scheme
- Ensure that the hours granted cover the need for assistance in a responsible manner
- Have an adapted workplace.
Do you have questions about assistance in the workplace? Contact Kassiani Zissis Eriksen.
Email: kassiani.zissis.eriksen@uloba.no
Tel.: (+47) 32 88 24 93
The film above shows how functional assistance enables disabled people to work. Kassiani Zissis Eriksen explains how functional assistance works and how Uloba facilitates functional assistance. Dang Van Ty describes how he uses functional assistance, and his assistant Christina Griffin talks about her job.
Download the text of Uloba’s film on functional assistance (Norwegian).