Barn och unga med ett frihetsberövat syskon har en ökad risk för psykisk ohälsa och kriminalitet och är därmed i behov av socialt stöd. Dessvärre har målgruppen tidigare försummats i såväl forskning som praktik och stödbehovet har därmed inte tillgodosetts. 2021 implementerade dock Bufff projektet Bryta mönster med målet att utveckla och förbättra stödet till målgruppen. Rådande studie har genom fyra semistrukturerade intervjuer med verksamma inom projektet, analyserat projektets programteoretiska grund och dess upplevda och förväntade effekter samt identifierat utmaningar som verksamma möter i arbetet med projektet. Resultatet åskådliggjorde hur projektets aktiviteter bemöter både emotionella och instrumentella behov och riktas mot såväl syskonen själva som personer och verksamheter i deras omgivning. Därmed stärks både syskonen och de prosociala nätverken runtomkring vilket uppgavs vara effektivt för att minska risken för psykisk ohälsa och kriminalitet. Resultatet synliggjorde dock utmaningar i att identifiera och nå fram till både syskonen själva men även till relevanta verksamheter som kan tänkas uppmärksamma och utveckla sitt stöd till målgruppen. Dessa utmaningar uppgavs dock minska i takt med att målgruppen i högre grad uppmärksammas. Överlag framgick därmed en positiv bild av detta unika projekt och dess förmåga att synliggöra och förbättra stödet till barn och unga med ett frihetsberövat syskon. / Children and youths with an incarcerated sibling have an increased risk of mental health issues and criminality and thus require social support. Unfortunately this target group has previously been neglected in both research and practice, and their needs of support have therefore not been met. However in 2021 the Bufff implemented the project Breaking Patterns with the aim of developing and improving support for this target group. The current study has, through four semi-structured interviews with practitioners, analyzed the project’s program theory and its perceived and expected effects, as well as identified challenges encountered by practitioners in working with the project. The results illustrated how the project includes activities that address both emotional and instrumental needs, targeting both the siblings themselves and individuals and organizations in their environment. Consequently, both the siblings and the prosocial networks around them are strengthened, which was said to be effective in reducing the risk of mental health issues and criminality. However, the results highlighted challenges in identifying and reaching both the siblings themselves and relevant organizations that could potentially enhance their support for the target group. Nevertheless, these challenges were reported to decrease as awareness of the target group increases. Overall, a positive picture emerged of this unique project and its ability to highlight and improve support for children and young people with an incarcerated sibling.

In cases where children and youths are in need of support from various activities in order to have their needs met, authorities shall collaborate towards the common goal: the child’s best interests. The concept lacks an unambiguous definition and professionals should make decisions adjusted to the child’s individual needs. Within the Mobile team, which is an interprofessional form of collaboration between the school and social services, the different professional groups could be characterized by different perspectives. This may lead to different interpretations which can pose a challenge to agree on a joint decision for the child’s best interests. The study is based on a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with six professionals within a mobile team. The theories used to analyze the empirical material is collaboration theory and theory about discretion in decision making. Several noteworthy results were find. The mobile team work early and preventive both generally and with more concrete interventions for the child’s best interests. The work within collaboration can be divided into resourse-, information- and knowledge exchange which creates the opportunity to get at better overall picture of the child. Further, to work for the child’s best interests the mobile team focuses on school, spare time and family, as different areas that are important for the child. Their approach is also characterized by understanding and supporting individual needs. Finally, there are factors that need to be considered to fulfil a successful collaboration. For example, the professionals must be aware of each other’s duties, roles, activities and regulatory systems.