Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka hur mottagare av ekonomiskt bistånd framställs i svensk opinionsjournalistik, för att i förlängningen belysa om eller på vilka sätt de konstrueras som ett socialt problem. För att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar har 60 tidningsartiklar av sorten opinionsjournalistik (debattartiklar och ledarsidor) analyserats med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys, Losekes (2017) teoretiska ramverk om hur sociala problem konstrueras, Goffmans (2020) teori om stigma samt med ett socialkonstruktionistiskt angreppssätt som utgångspunkt. Av resultatet framgår att mottagare av ekonomiskt bistånd antingen framställs som utsatta och hjälplösa sett till sin ekonomiska situation eller genom att ifrågasätta försörjningsstödsmottagarnas behov av stöd då det argumenteras för att ekonomiskt bistånd är ett kravlöst bistånd som delas ut i allt för hög grad. Studien visar att det talas om mottagare av ekonomiskt bistånd i termer av att de utgör en belastning för samhället då det framhålls att ekonomiskt bistånd leder till negativa konsekvenser på både samhälls- och individnivå. Samtidigt ställs mottagare av ekonomiskt bistånd mot andra grupper av föremål för välfärdens insatser i bemärkelsen vilka som anses förtjänta av samhällets stöd, i vilken jämförelse försörjningsstödsmottagare framhålls som icke förtjänta. Det faktum att ekonomiskt bistånd utgör ett yttersta skyddsnät för individer som uttömt alla andra möjligheter till försörjning och således inte kan tillgodose sina behov på egen hand lyfts sällan i debatten om försörjningsstöd och mottagare av ekonomiskt bistånd - debatten riktar snarare fokus på mottagare av ekonomiskt bistånd som en belastning för välfärden och hur dessa ska ta sig från en försörjning via ekonomiskt bistånd.

Användningen av artificiell intelligens (AI) är ett högaktuellt ämne i samhället och även inom det sociala arbetet. Denna studies syfte är att undersöka AI inom socialt arbete. Upplever socialarbetare att deras arbetssätt påverkas av att AI-baserade beslutsystem implementeras och i så fall hur? Vilka för-respektive nackdelar upplever socialarbetare med implementeringen av automatiserade beslutsystem inom socialt arbete? Studien har genomförts genom en kvalitativ metod, i form av sex semistrukturerade intervjuer med socialarbetare och handläggare inom försörjningsstöd, omsorgsförvaltning och myndighet i fyra olika kommuner i Sverige. Idag används olika standardiserade verktyg och automatiserade beslutsystem av socialtjänsten. Det automatiserade beslutssystemets syfte är att effektivisera arbetet, men även att göra likvärdiga bedömningar. Resultatet av denna studie visar att implementeringen av AI har förändrat socialarbetarnas dagliga arbete genom en effektivisering, med mindre administrativa arbetsuppgifter. Digitaliserade tjänster har som syfte att underlätta för klienter, men studien visar en oro för social isolering. Till exempel när klienter inte längre behöver träffa socialarbetare eller ta sig ur hemmet för att skicka in en ansökan. Det rör sig även om komplexa system som kräver ny kunskap, där kommunerna beskrivs stå inför en stor utmaning när IT avdelningar inte har den kompetens som AI kräver. / The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is a highly relevant topic in society and within social work. The purpose of this study is to investigate AI within social work. Do social workers feel that their working methods are affected by the implementation of AI-based decision systems, and if so, how? What advantages and disadvantages do social workers perceive with the implementation of automated decision systems in social work? The study was conducted using a qualitative method, in the form of six semi-structured interviews with social workers and caseworkers in social assistance, care management, and authority in four different municipalities in Sweden. Today, various standardized tools and automated decision systems are used by social services. The purpose of the automated decision system is to streamline the work, but also to make equivalent assessments. The results of this study show that the implementation of AI has changed social workers' daily work through increased efficiency, with fewer administrative tasks. Digital services aim to facilitate clients, but the study shows concern about social isolation. For example, when clients no longer need to meet social workers or leave their homes to submit an application. There are also complex systems requiring new knowledge, with municipalities facing a significant challenge as IT departments lack the competence that AI demands.

This master’s thesis focuses on educational discourse as it appears in texts about reading promotion interventions directed towards children in public care and children in families with long-term financial assistance. Three case studies of interventions are presented: Skolfam, Paired Reading and Letterbox Club Sweden. The aim of the thesis is to investigate how the interventions are related to the Foucauldian concepts of governmentality, pastoral power, normalization and technologies of the self. The method used is based on the ideas and concepts of Michel Foucault, who deals with the different modes by which we as human beings perform our subjectivity in relation to discourses and institutions. The case studies analyse how reading and math activities are directed towards socially vulnerable children for the prevention of adverse outcomes and social exclusion in adulthood. The relationship between social problems and literacy are of central importance to the analysis. The results of the analysis reveal that the interventions are linked to liberal governmentality. The reading promotion activities are expected to change the children’s reading behavior and attitudes toward education. It is hoped that the interventions will achieve a self-regulating capacity among the children, in order to make them improve their school achievements. The underlying ambition is to form and shape subjects to become independent, democratic citizens who are capable of maintaining a life without long-termed social assistance.  The interventions are especially focused on supporting the foster parents to best meet the needs of the children in accordance with liberal governmentality. This is a two years master’s thesis in Archive, Library and Museum studies.

A Social Services Act was introduced in 2016 to avoid differences concerning assessments between municipalities and to improve legal certainty and equal treatment among applicants. This study is aiming at investigating social security officers’ assessment of applications for income support in order to fulfill the legislator’s aim of the actual act. In more details, the study uncovers criteria for how the social security officers assess whether clients are actively seeking employment or not.   A qualitative approach based on individual semi-structured interviews is conducted with six social security officers from three Swedish municipalities. Interviews are based on a fictional case. Lipsky’s theory of Street-level bureaucrats and Hasenfeld’s Human service organizations theory are applied to analyze collected interviews. The result shows that the amendment in the Social Service Act does not induce major changes in social security officers’ routines. There are various factors influencing these officers’ decision making regarding the clients’ activities to search for jobs. Decision-making is contextually dependent and there is room for discretion concerning the interpretation of the actual Social Service Act. Therefore this act might be improved in order to achieve equal treatment and legal certainty.

The aim of this essay was to study how social workers work with clients who suffer from addiction problems. The study enlightens how the legal framework concerning the legislation of social services can be seen as either a possibility or restriction in terms of processing social welfare. Furthermore the purpose with the study was to examine what demands that are set at clients with addiction problems. To work with the clients motivation is a reacurring theme that contains both social workers latitude and the demands that are made on the clients. The empirical data is based on interviews with four social workers within the administration of social welfare in commune X. The data in the study was transcribed and organized to be able to analyze. The outcome of the study shows that the legislation fills a fundamental importance in the daily work of the social workers. This is set into seeing that the assignments in the daily work of the social workers appear to be relatively complex. It is shown to be clear that the legislation entails problems regarding differences in the social workers decision making which can raise dissatisfaction among the clients. Additionally, the result in the studie shows the importance of good relations between social workers and clients to promote the work and use the good prerequisites. Consequently, the study does also illuminate some positive aspects in relation to the social workers ability, within their authority, making individual assessment.

Syftet med föreliggande studie är att undersöka hur socialsekreterare verksamma på ekonomiskt bistånd upplever sitt handlingsutrymme med hänsyn till verksamhetens ekonomiska krav samt ur ett rättssäkerhetsperspektiv. Som utgångspunkt i studien tillämpas det teoretiska perspektivet New Public Management som menar att offentlig sektor under de senaste årtiondena har formats efter företagsliknande strukturer. Sju socialsekreterare på socialtjänstens avdelning för ekonomiskt bistånd i en kommun i Sverige intervjuades enligt semistrukturerade intervjuer. I resultatet framkommer det att centrala påverkansfaktorer av handlingsutrymmet såsom personliga värderingar, det kollegiala stödet samt omgivande aktörers ageranden identifieras. Vidare påvisar resultatet att samtliga informanter upplever sitt handlingsutrymme som stort samt att ekonomiska krav inte påverkar handlingsutrymmet då det alltid föreligger en individuell bedömning. Något intressant är att det tycks råda en motsägelsefullhet eftersom informanterna ändå identifierar begränsningar i handlingsutrymmet. Vidare tycks den individuella bedömningen, som ger stort utrymme för tolkning, möjliggöra att rättssäkerheten kan äventyras. / <p>2019-01-15</p>

In previous research the lack of usage of a child perspective and child participation has been a recurring theme. The purpose of this study is to examine the usage of a child perspective within social assistance where the target group is adults and the main goal of the work is to support households to self-sufficiency. This study’s aim is to further highlight the presence of a child perspective, child participation and how social workers collaborate with other units within matters concerning children. This qualitative study has used research interviews as it’s data collecting method, the empirical material consists of interviews with six social workers who all work within one social assistance unit at a social services office. The results show the difficulties of defining what it means to practice a child perspective within one’s work. It also puts focus on the dilemma of wanting to practice a child perspective and their increased participation, versus how the respondents view their task as social workers within social assistance. The conclusions of this study further raise a question on how children's participation and a child perspective can be integrated into the practical work of social assistance.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the degree of discipline in social services may be the reason why more children are evicted in one municipality in Stockholm, compared to another. Since our purpose was to study the degree of discipline in social services work with eviction cases where children are concerned, discipline is therefore a central part of the study. The interest in the subject arose from our prior understanding that social services approach to discipline may affect the extent of evictions. In order to answer the study’s question at issue, a qualitative interview was conducted to create an understanding of the discipline and a vignette study was conducted to compare the social workers assessments in two municipalities in Stockholm, Högstad and Lågby. The study's interviews and vignette study was complemented with previous research related to the topic. The theoretical perspective was the basis for the analysis of the empirical study and consisted interconnection of theory by Michel Foucaults as well as Greta Marie Skaus and Erich Fromms perspective which helped us create a better understanding of the discipline in social services. In conclusion, we discussed thoughts and ideas that arose during the study and the results show, among other things, obvious elements of discipline in social services. Additional knowledge from the study contributed to increased understanding was in which way the social services approach to discipline affects their assessments in eviction cases where children are concerned.

The purpose of this study was to examine social workers working process in social assistance with focus on the child´s perspective. We were interested in learning about the existence of variations in approach and attitude between two municipalities. Question to be answered about what methods and approaches used by social workers to include the child´s perspective in the process of social assistance. Another question to be answered about what the manner in which social workers took into account the child´s perspective when the families apply for social assistance in relation to the operations and requirement. To fulfill the purpose, qualitative methods were used. Interviews were conducted with six social workers, three social workers in each municipality. The results of the interviews were analyses based on research and knowledge reviews and based on theory of street level bureaucracy. The study´s results show variations between the two municipalities in the social workers account of the child´s perspective in social assistance. The results also show that there was no established method or model in municipalities that made it clear to examiners how the child´s perspective should be taken into account in work with families. Instead the social workers of laws, policies, local conditions and the officers´ own discretion assumed how to best take in to account the child´s perspective in the work. When families applied for social assistance, social workers always tried to consider the child´s perspective. Families with children had the opportunity to be granted extra efforts that benefited children and the requirements were not as strict for families with children, as for other individuals without children who applied for social assistance.

This is a study about the social work profession and the changes which now is being implemented, influenced by efficiency and digitalization. How social services works with financial assistance for those who can’t earn their own living is changing. The traditional street-level bureaucracy with face to face-meetings is being replaced by a more digital work method: “Trelleborgsmodellen”, where the bureaucrat doesn't meet the client during the assessment of the need of financial assistance. The data for the study was collected via three focus groups held in Trelleborg, Gotland and Lidköping. The result showed that bureaucrats in Lidköping and on Gotland had a fear that important details could go missing with the removal of the face to face-meeting. That fear was not present in Trelleborg, were they instead talked about all the benefits that they saw with a simplified, fast and effective administration process. That simplified process is a result of deskilling, the need for education in social work doesn't exist anymore in Trelleborg.