Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

Tidigare forskning visar på att ett effektivt sätt att minimera ungdomskriminalitet är att arbeta förebyggande. Syftet med studien var därför att undersöka vilka preventiva insatser som används för att motverka att ungdomar involveras i gängkriminalitet. Studien genomfördes utifrån en kvalitativ ansats med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Urvalet bestod av sex stycken professionella inom socialtjänsten som hade erfarenhet av att arbeta med ungdomar i kriminella nätverk. För att tolka studiens resultat användes systemteori och teorin om sociala band. Med hjälp av tematisk analys har studiens material analyserats och behandlats. Resultatet visade att det preventiva arbetet med ungdomar är komplext och behöver utgå ifrån både ett individ- och helhetsperspektiv. För att identifiera och motverka gängkriminalitet bland unga behöver socialarbetare även ha kunskap om risk- och skyddsfaktorer samt främja relationsskapandet i arbetet. Slutsatsen som drogs var att det preventiva arbetet behöver prioriteras i samhället och att forskningen om preventiva insatser behöver utvecklas. / Previous research indicates that preventive interventions is an effective way to reduce gangrelated crimes. The purpose of the study was to investigate which preventive measures are used to prevent juvenile delinquency. The study was conducted with a qualitative approach with the help of semi-structured interviews with six social workers. All with experience of working with juvenile delinquency. The theoretical framework for this study was systems theory and social bond theory. With a thematic analysis, the collected data and results were analysed. Results showed that preventive work with adolescents is complex and needs to have an individual and holistic approach. In order to identify and counter juvenile delinquency, social workers also need to have knowledge of risk and safety factors, and promote a relationship-grounded practice. The conclusion was that preventive work needs to be more prioritised in society and that research on preventive measures needs to be developed.

This PhD by published work consists of: five single authored articles in refereed journals; two main author articles in refereed journals; four jointly authored articles in refereed journals; a single authored article in a non-refereed journal; one jointly authored book, including five single authored chapters; two single authored chapters in edited books. They were published in the period 2003-2013. None has been submitted for any other degree or diploma by me or any other person. The theme running through these publications is the need for social workers to pay significant attention to issues arising from religion, belief and culture. The research reported highlights the impact of such issues on the lives, experiences, resources and responses of individuals, groups and communities for whom they are important. The work emphasises the importance of developing such understanding and of enhancing knowledge of different ways in which religion, belief and culture impact on the issues that social workers deal with. I suggest that these are essential aspects of culturally competent social work practice which have too often been neglected in both research and professional training. The publications are listed in Appendix 1 (pp 56 - 59). They demonstrate how my thinking has developed over the past decade. They reflect and are, in part, a response to the developing professional, theoretical and political ii context within which I have operated as a social work practitioner, manager and academic over a longer period. The majority are solo-authored. However, I remain committed to collaborative work and recognise that discussions with those researched, my collaborators, and others remain invaluable to the ongoing development of my thinking. Joint authorship declaration forms have been completed, in respect of all relevant publications, and are appended. Eight publications (Art.12, Art.11, Art.10, Art.9, Art.8, Art.6, Art.5 and Art.3) are based on findings from primary research, while Art.1 and Art.2 explore published data or data supplied by others to provide original analyses of particular issues. The remaining publications, notably book chapters, are primarily conceptual in their approach. They are underpinned by findings from both the primary research reported elsewhere and the use of case examples collected from semi-structured interviews with social work practitioners. / PhD by published work. The published articles are not displayed in full text with the online version of the PhD due to publisher copyright restristrictions.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka socialsekreterares erfarenheter av interprofessionell samverkan med professioner från andra verksamheter. Informationen samlades in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med sju socialsekreterare vid olika verksamheter inom en svensk region. Empirin analyserades med stöd av ett samverkansperspektiv, begreppen makt och handlingsutrymme samt tidigare forskning. Studiens dataanalys resulterade i tre teman; Samverkans betydelse, Försvårande faktorer, samt Förutsättningar för lyckad samverkan. En slutsats som dras är att resultatet till stor del bekräftar tidigare forskning om vad som kan påverka resultatet av interprofessionell samverkan, vilket innebär att en mängd olika faktorer samspelar för att påverka resultatet. / The aim was to study social workers experiences of interprofessional collaboration with professions from other organizations. The information was collected through semi-structured interviews with seven social workers working in different organizations in a Swedish county. The empirical data was analyzed using a collaborational perspective, the concepts professional authority and discretion as well as previous research. The data-analysis resulted in three themes; The Importance of Collaboration, Aggravating Circumstances, and Conditions for Successful Cooperation. One conclusion we make is that the shown results mostly confirm previous reasearch about what affects the result of interprofessional collaboration. This means that different factors contribute to the result.

The purpose of this study has been to examine stress factors in the field for social workers and the potential consequences of these factors and how they can be prevented and managed. Qualitative interviews were chosen as the methodology to carefully analyze and comprehend the experiences of work-related stress. Five social workers participated in the interviews to provide a deepened understanding of the chosen subject. The results were interpreted and analyzed using empowerment and coping theories. The findings highlighted various factors associated with stress and burnout, such as task overload, high caseloads, lack of constructive feedback, and complex cases. The study emphasized that these aspects extend beyond individual well-being and can influence overall professional performance. The results indicated that the high workload and a constant sense of overwhelm create challenges in maintaining high-quality work. The conclusion is that establishing a work environment that supports communication, feedback, and mutual support is crucial. Additionally, it is important to implement flexible work arrangements to meet the needs of social workers and promote both their well-being and professional development. / Studien har haft som syfte att undersöka stressfaktorer i arbetet för socialsekreterare samt de potentiella konsekvenserna av dessa faktorer och även hur det kan förebyggas och hanteras. I studien valdes kvalitativa intervjuer för att tillgodose behovet av att noggrant granska och förstå upplevelserna av arbetsrelaterad stress. I intervjuer deltog fem socialsekreterare för att få en fördjupad förståelse av det valda ämnet. Resultaten tolkades och analyserades med hjälp av empowerment- och copingteori. Utifrån resultatet framkom olika faktorer kopplade till stress och utmattning såsom överbelastning av arbetsuppgifter, hög ärendemängd, brist på konstruktiv feedback och komplexa ärenden. I studien framhölls att dessa aspekter omfattar mer än det individuella välbefinnandet och kan påverka den övergripande professionella prestationen. Resultatet visade att den höga arbetsbelastningen och den kontinuerliga känslan av överväldigande skapar svårigheter för att bibehålla en hög kvalitet i arbetet. Slutsatsen är att etablera en arbetsmiljö som stödjer kommunikation, feedback och ömsesidigt stöd är av betydelse. Dessutom är det av vikt att införa flexibla arbetsarrangemang för att tillgodose socialarbetarnas behov och främja både deras välbefinnande och professionella utveckling.

In human service professions, professionals are expected to respond to and manage not only the emotions of others, but also their own. Due to the negative effects of poor emotion management, it is relevant for social workers to gain a better understanding of the role of emotions in their work. This is to strengthen their readiness to act and counteract the risk of emotional fatigue. The purpose of this study is to understand and describe how social workers are emotionally affected by their work. Furthermore, the study aims to examine how strategies are used by social workers to handle emotions. Data collection has been conducted through semi-structured interviews with eight social workers from different municipalities. The results show that the work requires strong emotional commitment by social workers, and they must show restraint regarding their own feelings at work. Furthermore, the results show the importance of managing the emotions that arise so that it does not ultimately lead to emotional fatigue and sick leave.

Over the past decade, several studies have been conducted on the extent to which social workers are subjected to threats and violence from clients. The results of these studies indicate that approximately one-third of social workers have experienced threats or violence from clients. Previous research also shows that social workers in the field of child and family services are at a higher risk of facing client-initiated threats and violence. Based on this statistics, along with the recent disinformantion campaign against the social services' work with the LVU-legislation, we found it interesting to focus our study specifically on social workers in the child and family domain. The purpose of our study was examine the experiences and perceptions of threat and violence from clients that social workers in the child and family domain have, and how these experiences have affected their professional approch. Additionally, we wanted to investigatethe strategies social workers use to feel secure. Our study is based on six semi-structured interviews with participants from two municipalities in southern Sweden. Threats and violence from clients are defined in various ways by the participants, with the main difference in the definition being where one draws the boundaries for what is acceptable. Many participants speak about a process of normalization of violence becomes a stratagy to cope with their work. It is also evident that when social workers are exposed to threats or violence from clients, there is a risk that it may affect the objectivity in assessments and decisiions.

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The study explored the perceptions of social workers on loneliness among elderly people in residential care facilities in Gävle and Stockholm, Sweden, during the COVID-19 Pandemic.  An exploratory qualitative study method was used. Four social workers working with elderly people in residential care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic participated in the study. Data were gathered for the study using an interview guide, and thematic analysis was used to analyze them. The study’s results were captured in two main themes which reflect the study’s research questions: social workers' perception of loneliness, and elderly people’s experiences of loneliness. According to social workers, the study concluded that loneliness is a multifaceted, subjective feeling that can trigger many coping methods and severely impact older people's health. In order to combat loneliness among older persons as a public health issue, social workers believe that a stronger involvement of the entire society is required.

This study examines the ethical challenges that Swedish social workers may facedue to the proposed “Informationsplikt” (Duty of Disclosure). Rooted in the Tidö-Agreement between government parties and the Swedish Democrats, thisobligation mandates public officials, including social workers, to verifyindividuals legal right to reside in the country and report undocumentedimmigrants to the police. Amid widespread criticism and demonstrations againstwhat is colloquially referred to as the “Angiverilagen” (The Informer Act),professionals have voiced concerns about the potential ethical implications ofenacting this proposed legislation. Through qualitative interviews with six socialworkers, this research investigates how this proposed law as a part of bureaucraticregulations intersects with personal values and professional ethics among socialworkers. The findings reveal a conflict between the reporting obligation andsocial workers personal and professional values. Respondents express acommitment to upholding their clients’ rights and dignity, while expressingapprehension that this mandatory reporting may compromise these principles.Discussions about potential strategies, such as seeking legal loopholes withinexisting legislation or contemplating civil disobedience or resignation, shed lighton the difficulties social workers may encounter in navigating these ethicalchallenges in the future. Overall, this study underscores the tension betweenfollowing laws and regulations and the core tenets of social work ethics,emphasizing the importance of social workers navigating these complexities withintegrity and ethical reflection.