Socialtjänsten är idag drabbad av en hög arbetsbelastning, något som lett till hög personal omsättning och en hög andel arbetsrelaterade besvär. Flera statliga utredningar av situationen likväl inlägg från intresseorganisationer som SKL och fackförbund föreslår att ett led i att hantera situationen är genom specialisering. Specialiseringen ska bestå i inrättandet av specialistutbildningar och specialisttjänstemän. Studien ger med hjälp av en kartläggning en nulägesbild av specialisttjänsternas förekomst, hur de benämns och inom vilka verksamhetsområden de verkar. Med hjälp av en abduktiv ansats används nyinstitutionell organisationsteori i ett försök att förstå specialisttjänsterna utifrån socialchefers uppfattningar av dessa. / Today the Swedish social services are suffering from high workloads. Consequently this has led to poor retention and high turnover rates. Several Official Reports of the Swedish Governemnt as well as input from unions and Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions suggests that one way to handle the situation is through a more specialized social service. The suggested specialization includes masterprograms in socialwork (MSW, 60 ECT) for social workers and specialized civil servants. The present study will examine the prevalence of this kind of specialists, what they are called, their function and in what parts of the social services they serve. In the present studie I will atempt to understand specialized civil servants from interviews with social service managers perceptions using abduction and neoinstutitional organizational theory.

Supervision is the process in which the supervisor helps supervisees to use their skills and knowledge to deliver effective services to the clients, thus achieving organisational objectives. For the organisation to render effective and efficient services to their clientele, supervision is necessary to all employees to ensure that they receive the relevant education and support for effective job performance. This study was conducted to explore the perspectives of social workers regarding supervision in the Department of Social Development in Johannesburg. The study was conducted amongst social workers working for the Department of Social Development in Johannesburg. The researcher’s motivation for choice of study emanates from the observation and experience she had regarding supervision during her deployment as a Social worker in the Limpopo Department of Health and Welfare, and during her deployment in the Department of Social Development in Johannesburg. The researcher never received formal supervision, and this resulted in development of interest by the researcher in determining the viewpoints of other social workers regarding supervision within the Department. In undertaking this research, a quantitative approach was utilised to understand the social worker’s perspectives, with the intention of making practical recommendations to the Department of Social Development on how to offer quality supervision. In this context, an applied research method was used as the findings will directly benefit the Department in improving service delivery by social workers by offering them effective supervision. A quantitative-descriptive design was used whereby a questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. No sampling was done for this study as all the social workers were made part of the study because of the small population. Relevant ethical procedures were taken into account such as ensuring that the respondents complete a written consent form, Confidentiality and anonymity were guaranteed, and no harm was posed to respondents whether emotionally or physically. Literature review regarding the study of supervision focusing on the functions, methods, roles, phases and model of supervision was done. The researcher consulted various sources to obtain different viewpoints about social work supervision. The study was conducted by distributing 90 questionnaires to the supervisors to give to social workers and only 45 respondents participated in the study. Returned questionnaires were analysed by means of a computer. Data was presented by means of tables, bar chart, graphs, and pie chart. The data was interpreted using the researcher’s viewpoints and the views from the literature. The research findings indicated that social workers regard supervision as necessary and important because they will receive guidance and support in performing their duties. Though the study confirmed that supervision within the Department of Social Development was not formalized, most social workers felt that the supervision they received was effective. This could be attributed to lack of knowledge by social workers on what supervision entails or it could be that the social workers are comfortable with the structure of supervision as it is currently in the Department. It was also revealed by this study that the highest qualification of social workers was a four year B.A. (SW) degree. None of the social workers furthered their studies in MA Supervision. It was found that there was lack of knowledge on supervision process by the supervisee and supervisors. With this lack of knowledge on supervision, it is possible that the social worker’s expectations of the supervisors have diminished, thus impacting on their views about supervision. / Dissertation (MSD (Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The adolescent in a children’s home forms part of the growing number of South African children who through the course of their lives have been exposed to physical, emotional and sexual abuse, malnutrition and neglect. This type of abuse could be the result of lack of parenting skills in the case of parents and carers fuelled by poverty and poor education. Consequently, these adolescents would be described as “in need” and would be eligible for placement in alternative care. Children’s homes fall in the category of alternative care, made available for children “in need”. In terms of the law, a young person is enforced to leave the children’s home at the age of 18. This is accompanied by feelings of fear, uncertainty and denial. These feelings could influence the young person’s adaptation in the community negatively. The emphasis is therefore placed on the role and the responsibility of the social worker to prepare the individual for successful emancipation from the children’s home. Preparing the adolescent optimally for emancipation from the children’s home and in addition to deliver support throughout, may lead to successful adaptation into the community. This particular responsibility should be available to the child throughout his/her life in the children’s home, not just prior to the emancipation process. Social workers should be made aware of different factors that could influence the successful adaptation, for example, social workers might lack knowledge and the focus should be on bridging such shortcomings. This study focused on various contributing factors that influence the success of the adolescents’ adaptation in the community. The aim of the study was to investigate the general adaptation of the adolescent after emancipation from the children’s home. In order to reach the required goal, a number of objectives were formulated. These included the formulation of a theoretical framework of knowledge about the adolescent’s general life around the time of emancipation; the role and responsibilities of the social worker in providing support and optimal preparation of the individual; and the positive and negative factors that contribute to the individual’s success. An empirical study, during which semi-structured interviews were used as a data collecting method, was undertaken to assess the adaptation of the adolescents after emancipation from the children’s home. The following main themes were identified: the current life situation of the adolescent over the age of 18 who lives outside the borders of the children’s home; his/her self-esteem and how this perception of him/herself influences the adaptation process after emancipation; how the adolescents adapt and experience the social environment; their opinion about participation in anti-social behaviour; their feelings about the optimal preparation before and after the process of emancipation and their opinion on specific areas of change to contribute to the optimal preparation of emancipation out of the children’s home. Ten participants took part in individual, semi-structured interviews. Applied research was undertaken as the researcher aimed at establishing solutions for the identified problem area, namely that social workers need more information on the contributing factors that influence the general adaptation process after emancipation. A qualitative approach was used in order to gather qualitative empirical data. To achieve the goal in this study, a phenomenological strategy was applied, as the focus was on the experience, meaning and concept of the individual as regards his/her general adaptation process after emancipation from the children’s home. The research question formulated for this study was: What are the contributing factors that influence the general adaptation process of the adolescent after emancipation from the children’s home? The research findings indicate that the adolescent generally adapts well after emancipation from the children’s home. Most individuals experience their lives as children in a children’s home as positive. This positive feedback could be attributed to the way these individuals have been treated in the children’s home. Their adaptation process depends on the value they attach to their lives in the children’s home. The following aspects was indicated to have a positive influence on the adaptation of the adolescent after leaving the children’s home: - - preparation for life outside the children’s home by social workers - - acceptance by the peer group - - support from social workers during the adolescent’s time in the children’s home and after leaving the children’s home - - facilitation of the adolescent’ s effective handling of his trauma during his stay in the children’s home. - - Spontaneous socialization outside the children’s home - - Supportive contact with family members This study revealed the experience of the adolescents after emancipation from the children’s home, which holds further research possibilities. The necessary information was acquired and could be used in further studies of adolescents in a similar situation. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Uppsatsen syftade till att belysa svenska socialarbetares reflektioner kring sin närmsta chefs ledarskap och dess betydelse för sina arbetsvillkor. Två socialarbetare, verksamma inom enhet för barn- och ungdomsvård, intervjuades. Informanterna beskrev att en chef som var lyhörd, tydlig i sin kommunikation och aktivt visade ett intresse för de anställdas välmående påverkade deras arbetsvillkor positivt. Likaledes upplevde informanterna att en chef som var otydlig i sitt sätt att förmedla information, visade oförståelse för sina anställdas behov och som inte gav tillräckligt med socialt stöd påverkade deras arbetsvillkor negativt. Detta var i paritet med resultat från tidigare studier. Vikten av att framtidens socialtjänst fokuserar på utvecklingen av ett ledarskap som är gynnsamt för socialarbetares arbetsvillkor diskuterades. / The aim of this study was to investigate how social workers reflect on the leadership of their closest manager, and the significance of leadership in relation to their working conditions. Two social workers, working in child welfare social services, were interviewed. The informants described that a manager who was responsive to the needs of their employees, was clear in his/her communication, and showed an active interest in the wellbeing of the employees influenced their working conditions positively. Furthermore, the informants experienced that a manager who communicated in an unclear way, showed a lack of understanding of the needs of the employees, and did not give enough social support negatively influenced their working conditions. These results were in parity with earlier studies. The importance for future social services to focus on the development of a leadership favorable for the working conditions of social workers was discussed.

This scientific paper examines five newly qualified social workers (NQSW) in Sweden who are in an intermediate position after graduation between education and working life in social work. The study aimed to investigate how the graduates felt prepared after training to execute professional conversations and meetings in social work with clients. Qualitative interviews were conducted for this paper, where the results show that the NQSW felt partially prepared for this. Some challenges were seen in the result related to conversations and meetings, amongst these, were their role in the exercise of authority, that showed that they had met deeper dimensions of authority than what their education had prepared them for. Through theories related to different roles based on Erving Goffman (2011), analysis has been made to different roles that NQSW needs to take on, and its impact on them. Results show, among other things, that NQSW perceive it as a difficult balance between being personal and professional in meetings with clients. The result also highlights personal and professional development for self-awareness from the education as helpful, but there was a wish for more of this during the social work program.With theories of knowledge according to Gustavsson (2000; 2002), the results were also analyzed and presented about how NQSW obtained knowledge and how education made it possible to gather knowledge for conversations and meetings in the social work. It was found in the results, as in previous research, that theoretical knowledge from education that was linked to actual situations or practice, has been beneficial to NQSW in their professional practice. However, NQSW felt that the education could continue to be more related to practice and wished for more reality-based education. Based on this essay, one can also point out the importance of the transition between education and practical work. NQSW could be seen as they carried a certain vulnerability in the form of knowledge gaps, uncertainty of their role, and how practical social work is executed when the NQSW goes from education. They felt that introduction to the field was important given from the new workplaces. In this essay, they meant that they were given some opportunity and support in continuing developing their knowledge, related to meetings and conversations through further education and collegial support at their workplaces.

No description available.

The aim of this literature study was to investigate and analyze how social workers do to communicate with newly arrived people who cannot speak Swedish. The aim of the study was also to investigate what obstacles and opportunities arise when the social worker and the newly arrived must speak through an interpreter. We then processed the result and analyzed it with the help of power theory, role theory, a communication theory and stigma. Our results showed that the interpreter has a central role in the communication between social workers and the newly arrived and the interpreter's actions and professionalism influence how well the communication works in the meeting between social workers and the newly arrived. We also discovered that it places higher demands on the social worker as he tries to communicate and build a relationship with newly arrived.

”Socionomers syn på bemötande i relation till unga vuxna”. En kvalitativ studie av socialt arbete i Malmö. Examensarbete i socialt arbete 15 högskolepoäng. Malmö universitet: Fakulteten för hälsa och samhälle, institutionen för socionomprogrammet, 2020.Syftet med denna studien är att beskriva hur socionomer bemöter unga vuxna i Malmö. Studien undersöker hur socionomer i Malmö förhåller sig till olika aspekter av bemötande och vilken betydelse bemötandet har, särskilt för att skapa en god relation mellan klienten och den professionelle, samtidigt som uppsatsen belyser utmaningar som socionomer ställs inför i sin arbetssituation. Empirin samlades in genom fem semistrukturerade intervjuer av kuratorer och socialtjänsthandledare. Vidare har jag använt mig av professionsetik, pliktetik och dygdetik som teoretiska utgångspunkter. Den insamlade empirin har analyserats utifrån de tre valda teorierna samt tidigare forskning och bakgrund. Resultatet visar att en god relation byggs genom att socionomen har förståelsen kring bemötandets innebörd och förhåller sig till bemötandet av klienten genom att förstå vikten av kommunikation. Språket, att vara lyhörd, tydlig och respektfull är betydelsefullt i bemötandet. Det framkommer också att socionomen har ett ansvar att följa etiska riktlinjer och förhållningssätt, men samtidigt måste socionomen använda sig av personlig närvaro i sitt relationskapande utan att vara privat. Informanterna bekräftar vikten av att förstå och hantera den makt en socionom ofta besitter i relationen till klienten. Medvetenhet om maktpositionens betydelse i relationen sågs som viktig. / The purpose of this study is to describe how social workers approach young adults in Malmö. It examines the different aspects of the approach and its significance, especially in order to establish a good relationship between the professional and the client, while at the same time highlighting the challenges that social workers face. The essay was compiled through five semi-structured interviews by counselors and social services workers. Furthermore, theoratical points of departure are proffesionethics, duty ethics and virtue ethics. The empirical data collected has been analyzed on the basis of the three chosen theories as well as previous research and background. The result shows that a good relationship is built by the social worker having an understanding of the meaning of the care and understanding the importance of listening, being clear, and being respectful towards the client. Also, the social worker has a responsibility to follow ethical guidelines and attitudes, but at the same time must make use of personal presence in building the relationship without being too personal. The participants confirm the importance of understanding and managing the power that a social worker often possesses in the relationship with the client. Awareness of this issue was seen as important.

This diploma thesis dealt with the topic - Motivation and burnout syndrome of social workers. With the help of professional literature, three theoretical chapters were prepared, which dealt with motivation, burnout syndrome and supervision. Each of the three chapters consisted of several small subchapters, which dealt with the subtopics of the factor. The aim of this diploma thesis was to find out how motivated, demotivated or burnout workers in social services are. With the help of questionnaires with social workers, the results for the given goal were found. At the end of this diploma thesis, the questionnaire was presented as an appendix.

Socialarbetares bemötande av personer de möter är av yttersta vikt i förändringsprocessen. Syftet med denna studie var att belysa de olika faktorer som ligger till grund för ett bra bemötande med ungdomar som har psykisk ohälsa utifrån de professionellas perspektiv samt undersöka vilka utmaningar som kan upplevas i sådana möten. Datainsamlingen skedde genom kvalitativa intervjuer med sex socialarbetare. Materialet analyserades genom tematisk-analys. De teoretiska utgångspunkterna som tillämpades i denna studie var lösningsfokuserad teori och Goffmans teori om stigma. Resultatet visar att ett bra bemötande grundar sig i ömsesidig respekt, förståelse och trygghet mellan socialarbetaren och ungdomen. Dessutom bör socialarbetaren inneha kunskap, erfarenhet, lyhördhet, empati, tålamod och accepterande för att ha ett bra bemötande. Det framkom även att socialarbetare kan uppleva utmaningar i möten med ungdomar, såsom att ungdomarna är motstridiga inför att söka hjälp, brister i deras motivation eller att ungdomarna mår så dåligt att de inte orkar söka hjälp. / Social workers encounter with individuals is important to support individuals to reach a positive change in their lives. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the various factors that form the basis for a good encounter with young people who have mental illness from the perspective of the professionals, as well as what challenges can be experienced in such meetings. Data collection was done through qualitative interviews with six social workers. The material was analyzed by a thematic analysis. The theoretical starting points used in this study were solution focused theory and Goffman's theory of stigma. The result of the study shows that a good encounter is based on mutual respect, understanding and security between the social worker and the youth. In addition, the social worker should possess knowledge and experience, be responsive, empathetic, patient and show acceptance in order to have a good approach. It also emerged that social workers may experience challenges in encounters with young people, such as that young people are contradictory to seek help, lack of motivation, or that young people’s mental illness is so bad that they are unable to seek help.