Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka chefer för LSS-verksamheters erfarenheter av kompetens och kompetensutveckling gällande användandet av alternativ och kompletterande kommunikation på LSS-boenden och dagliga verksamheter. Studien har genomförts med semistrukturerade intervjuer för att samla in chefernas erfarenheter av de berörda verksamheterna. Med tematisk analys bearbetades sorterades och analyserades det empiriska materialet från intervjuerna. Resultat av studien visade att kompetens och kompetensutveckling i användandet av AKK var komplext och påverkades av flera faktorer. De viktigaste resultaten visade att de faktorer som möjliggjorde och utmanade arbetet var verksamhetens inriktning och brukarens förutsättningar, informellt- och kollegialt lärande, samt verksamhetens tillgång till resurser. / The purpose of this study has been to investigate the experiences of managers in LSS operations regarding competence and competence development in the use of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) in LSS group homes and day-care centers. The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews to collect the managers’ experiences of the relevant operations. The empirical data from the interviews was processed, sorted and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of the study showed that competence and competence development in the use of AAC were complex and influenced by several factors. The most significant results showed that the factors enabling and challenging the work were the direction of the operations and the user’s conditions, informal and collegial learning, and the operations’ access to resources.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

Examines the prevalence of depression among delinquent adolescent boys placed in a residential placement facility located in Yucaipa, California and managed by Trinity Children and Family Services, a non-profit organization. The Beck Depression Inventory was administered to 54 randomly selected boys (ages 12-18) of different ethnic backgrounds. Independent variables included length of time in the group home, the level of support from the family and the number of visitations the client received from family or other support systems. Results indicated that (1) White adolescents experience the highest levels of depression, (2) there was no difference in regards to depression in relation to age, and (3) that time in placement and the amount of family involvement had an impact on the level of depression of the adolescent.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2010. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

This qualitative study explores the perceived influence of spirituality on ethnic minority adolescent's outcomes in faith-based residential group homes. Study results offer a deeper understanding of the influence and implementation of spiritual practices among children impacted by child welfare.

In Sweden there is a limited research about adults with intellectual disabilities and their sexuality through a social work perspective. This study aims to study how workers in group homes and their managers describes the residents sexuality and describes how they approaches their sexuality at work. And if there’s any facilities or hindrance that affects the sexual space. 5 semi-structured interviews with managers and coordinators, and 3 focus groups with carers where made. For analysis script theory and the charmed circle have been used. The result shows that people who works at group homes has no guidance or collective ways to approach sexuality in their work. They talk about an open approach but often describes the residents as asexual and connects sexuality with the level of disabilities. The respondents acknowledge that they need more knowledge. The conclusion is that there’s a need for more knowledge and guidance for people who work at group homes to extend the space for sexuality for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Bakgrund: Personer med funktionsnedsättning har i förhållande till övrig befolkning en lägre grad av delaktighet. De individer sin får stöd inom ramen för Lagen om stöd och service till vissa funktionshindrade (LSS) hamnar i en beroendeställning till den personal som utför insatserna. I syfte att öka brukares delaktighet används Delaktighetsmodellen, vilken bygger på professionellt ledda dialogmöten mellan brukare och habiliterare. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur erfarenheter och kunskaper från rollen som vägledare inom Delaktighetsmodellen har kommit till användning i habiliterares ordinarie arbete. Metod: En kvalitativ studie med induktiv ansats. Sex habiliterare, en man och fem kvinnor, deltog i semistrukturerade intervjuer. Utöver spridning i kön fanns också en spridning i ålder, utbildning och specifik yrkeserfarenhet. Resultat: Respondenterna upplevde att de erfarenheter och kunskaper de fått i och med sin vägledarroll har lett till reflektioner kring hur ens egna värderingar och attityder påverkar delaktigheten hos brukare samt vilken betydelse dessa insikter har för den professionella utvecklingen. Vidare visade resultatet att vägledarrollen har uppmärksammat respondenterna på maktförhållanden som råder mellan deras habiliterare och brukare samt vilken roll vägledaren kan fylla när det kommer till att skapa förutsättningar för en ökad delaktighet hos brukare. Slutsats: Vägledarutbildningen har lett till att habiliterarna reflekterat kring yrkesrollen samt fått insikt i hur värderingar och attityder påverkar brukares delaktighet. Habiliterarna har även fått en ökad känsla av meningsfullhet och förståelse för uppdraget och därmed en större trygghet i yrkesrollen. Studien belyser även komplexiteten i habiliteraruppdraget och vikten av kompetensutveckling och kontinuerlig reflektion kring uppdraget. / Background: People with disability report a lower level of social participation than others. Getting support through the Act concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (LSS) lead to a dependency towards the support-staff. The Involvement Model is meant to increase the level of involvement among people with disabilities, with the guidance from trained facilitators. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe how the experience from being a facilitator in The Involvement Model have come into use in the support- staff’s ordinary occupation in-group homes. Methods: A qualitative interview with an inductive approach was used. There were six participants in the study, one male and five female. All of them where support-staff in-group homes. Apart from the variation in gender, there was also a difference in age, level of education and professional experience among the participants. Results: The participants reported that their role as a facilitator had led to awareness about how values and attitudes effect the involvement among people with disabilities. The participants describe their experience as professional development. They also report that they see their occupation from a new perspective and have realized their role in facilitating involvement for people with disabilities. Conclusions: This study has showed that the experience the support-staff gained, through the facilitator-education, led to an awareness about their role in empowering involvement. They also reported an increased meaning and understanding in their professional role. This study can also contribute to show the complexity of the support-staffs role.

Many young persons live under difficult circumstances. Factors including HIV/AIDS pandemic, exacerbate the need to place young persons into alternative placements. The new and the unknown can be frightening but carrying a faithful transitional object establishes therapeutic bridge between the old and known and the new and unknown. This study sought to explore South African child and youth care workers' awareness of young persons' objects of significance in residential care settings. The rational was that with greater awareness, important objects may become a more useful option for the promotion of young persons' well-being. The research confirmed that South African child and youth care workers are aware of the existence and importance of significant objects. It further revealed that young persons possess different objects of significance to which workers need to pay careful attention. / Research Institute for Theology and Religion / M.Tech. (Child and Youth Care)

Many young persons live under difficult circumstances. Factors including HIV/AIDS pandemic, exacerbate the need to place young persons into alternative placements. The new and the unknown can be frightening but carrying a faithful transitional object establishes therapeutic bridge between the old and known and the new and unknown. This study sought to explore South African child and youth care workers' awareness of young persons' objects of significance in residential care settings. The rational was that with greater awareness, important objects may become a more useful option for the promotion of young persons' well-being. The research confirmed that South African child and youth care workers are aware of the existence and importance of significant objects. It further revealed that young persons possess different objects of significance to which workers need to pay careful attention. / Research Institute for Theology and Religion / M.Tech. (Child and Youth Care)

Text in Afrikaans / In die studie word die ontwikkelingspad van 'n Newtoniaanse benadering na 'n ekosistemiese benadering in die denke van die navorser en lewering van pleegsorgdienste deur die maatskaplike werker/navorser, beskryf. In die beskrywing is gefokus op drie beginsels elk van die Newtoniaanse - en die ekosistemiese benaderings. Die gekose beginsels is met 'n gevallestudie geillustreer. Aan die ha d van die beginsels van die ekosistemiese benadering word 'n konsepsuele raamwerk gebied waardeur die outonomie van mense en sisteme in stand gehou en gebruik kan word. Volgens tweede orde kubernetika, is die studie die konstruksie van die navorser. Pleegsorg is 'n komplekse alternatiewe versorgingsposisie vir 'n kind en die lewering van begeleidingsdienste stel besondere eise aan die professionele persone betrokke. Hierdie studie suggereer dat pleegsorgdienste wat aan die hand van die ekosistemiese benadering gelewer word, 'n konstruksie van gedeelde verantwoordelikheid tussen al die betrokke partye voorstel. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Science: Mental Health)