The thesis project was commissioned by the disability services of the city of Jämsä and the adjoining area of Kuhmoinen. There was a handbook made in 2009 for the disability and rehabilitation workers, which needed an update. The aim of this study was to explore the disability and rehabil-itation services specialists’ opinions about the employee handbook, the need for the handbook, its contents, and different alternatives for making the handbook.

The thesis was qualitative; the data were obtained through thematic interviews with nine specialists. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed by thematizing.

The study shows that even though the earlier version of the employee handbook was seldom used, updating the handbook was found important. The handbook was hoped to be easy to read, concise, and up to date. The handbook was expected to improve the quality of guidance and information and to increase the efficiency of working. The handbook was considered more important in the changing work environment.

The study pointed out the need to renew the handbook, so that it would support the workers in the induction of new employees, and when implementing work processes and giving guidance to clients. In the interviews, the specialists proposed that the handbook should describe the local disability and rehabilitation services policy in Jämsä and would be available for the service users as well.