Today's welfare society is increasingly specialised and the downside of this is that it can lead to a fragmented welfare society. As a result, the importance of collaboration has become more central as it can be a counterforce against fragmentation. Our purpose with the study is to gain an understanding of social workers' experiences of internal collaboration and the consequences internal collaboration has for the client.  For answering our research questions, we chose to use a qualitative method with seven semi-structured interviews. The results based on our collected empirical data were analysed using transcription and encoding certain paragraphs and words in the printout. An overall conclusion is that the organizational conditions are what are most highlighted in our empirical data. They create both obstacles if they do not exist but can also create good conditions for a functioning internal collaboration. The respondents in the study highlight those good relationships and closeness to each other are a positive factor that facilitates internal collaboration. Although the relationship may have some significance for collaboration, it is still the fundamental factors, such as regulations, knowledge and explanation factors and organizational conditions that are most important for good collaboration. The empirical study thus confirms the theory and research presented in our paper.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka skolkuratorers upplevelse av att arbeta inom skolan som tvärprofessionell verksamhet samt deras upplevda möjlighet att utföra sitt arbete. Skolkuratorn är en minoritet i verksamheten samt har ett annat perspektiv än de andra professionerna vilket gör det intressant att studera. Syftet undersöks genom att titta på kuratorns relationer till andra yrkesgrupper i skolan samt vad de anser är kännetecknande för yrkesrollen. Analysen utgår från en fenomenologisk ansats och Bourdieus teoretiska begrepp fält, habitus och kapital. Studien har utförts genom kvalitativa intervjuer med skolkuratorer och sedan analyserats genom en tematisk analys. Resultatet visar på att kuratorn är i underläge i skolans fält på grund av ett annat habitus än pedagogerna, samtidigt som de ses som experter inom sitt perspektiv och ofta rådfrågas. Det som är betydande för kuratorns position i fältet är relationen till ledningen och lärarna samt att få förtroende från dessa genom att ha ett högt värderat kunskapskapital. Skolkuratorerna lyfter även elevhälsoteamet som väldigt viktig för dem då de har en grupp de känner starkare tillhörighet till och blir mindre ensamma. Nätverk med andra kuratorer framstår också som betydande då det ger möjlighet att diskutera med andra socionomer samt ger en känsla av delaktighet. Kuratorsrollen beskrivs i övrigt som mångfacetterad, ensam, splittrad, otydlig och värdefull. Kuratorernas möjlighet att utföra sitt arbete påverkas till stor del av vilka förutsättningar som finns, exempelvis hur mycket tid de har till sitt befogande i relation till arbetsbördan.

Social workers are constantly faced with different dilemmas which affects their professional approach while dealing with children and young adults. These dilemmas are frequently a result of conflicting laws. On one hand the child perspective should be prominent and on the other hand the dominance of parental rights are overtaking. An issue is when parents decline help and support despite being in need of assistance. The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding and broader knowledge of the dilemmas social workers who specialise in child- and youth welfare face in their practice. We have also studied social workers' experiences in dealing with these dilemmas. To answer our aim we have used a qualitative method while conducting interviews with seven social workers. These informants have professional experience in working for social services with public authority relating to children and young adults under the age of eighteen. The result reflects the occupational life of social workers and the constant attempt to handle complex situations and ethical dilemmas. Your three main themes are presented as: approach to the legal system, approach to the parents and approach to the profession. Dilemmas that do not have simple solutions or quick fixes.

There has been a long standing discourse around youths involved in crimes in Sweden, which contributions are useful and which ones are not. This study examines how outpatient care organizations work with youths involved in crime and/or substance abuse. Also what strengths and shortcomings do the professionals experience when working with youths involved in crime and/or substance abuse during outpatient care treatment. We examined this by doing a qualitative study, interviewing an outpatient care organization with the target group youths involved in crime and/or substance abuse. Through open interviews the professionals gave insight to how their work is carried out, and what they believe to be it’s strengths and weaknesses. The study brought forward that flexibility, cooperation with other involved organizations and authorities and creating an alliance with the young receiving the care is what makes the outpatient care treatment work. The professionals question socio-economic structures that put youth at risk for this kind of norm-breaking behavior. System Theory is used to make an analysis of the work done by the informants, giving another perspective to how it can be interpreted. This alongside earlier research is the basis of this research paper to help us create a better understanding for how outpatient care organizations work with youths involved in crime and/or substance abuse and what interventions benefit the work and what exacerbate it.

Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka yrkesverksamma socionomers uppfattningar av begreppet karriär inom socialt arbete och vilka faktorer de anser kan påverka möjligheter och hinder för en personlig karriär. Studien begränsades till myndighetsutövning och verksamheter inom individ- och familjeomsorgen. Syfte och frågeställningar besvarades genom fem enskilda intervjuer med yrkesverksamma socionomer. Det insamlade materialet har undersökts utifrån karriär, vertikal och horisontell könsegregering, könsrollssocialisation och jämställdhetsnormen som teoretiska begrepp. Faktorer som kön, ålder och familj kan inte enskilt användas för att förklara karriär inom socialt arbete. Dessa faktorer i kombination med arbetsmiljö och klientrelationer har i denna studie visat sig kunna ha en påverkan för socionomers möjligheter till att göra karriär inom socialt arbete. Vårt resultat visar att arbetsmarknaden och arbetsmöjligheterna för socionomer är stora, då socialt arbete innefattar en stor variation av klientgrupper och verksamheter. Detta innebär inte nödvändigtvis att en bred arbetsmarknad och en hög variation av arbetsmöjligheter är det samma som stora möjligheter till att göra karriär. / The purpose of this study has been to examine how professional social workers see their career opportunities within social work and what factors they believe are influencing career choices. This study is limited to the exercise of authority and activities within individual and family services. The purpose for this study has been answered through five individual interviews with professional social workers. The data from the interviews have been examined by career, vertical and horizontal gender segregation, gender socialization and equality norm as theoretical concepts. Factors such as gender, age and family can not alone explain a career in social work. These factors, combined with the work environment and client relationships have in this study been shown to have an impact on social workers opportunities to make a career within social work. Our results have shown that the labor market and job opportunities for social workers are great since social work includes a wide variety of client groups and organizations. However, a broad labor market and a high variety of jobs is not necessary the same as a great career opportunity.

The goal of this study was to explore the nature and extent of palliative care in the Nairobi Hospice, in Kenya. Owing to the limited information available on this subject, the study is based on a research question that seeks to deepen understanding of the experiences of palliative care services by patients facing life-threatening illnesses. In answering the research question, the study employed a variety of methods. First, it used qualitative research approach in order to unearth personal experiences of the value of services received. Second, it employed applied research with the aim of using results to influence the formulation and improvement of palliative care programs in Nairobi. Further, the study employed the case study method as the research strategy. Focus group interviews were utilised as the data collection technique. The researcher used an interview schedule and administered semi-structured questions on a group basis. Availability sampling method was used to draw a sample of 20 patients receiving palliative care at the Nairobi Hospice. Confirmation from the study indicated that patients receive medical care, counselling, and spiritual care as well as day care services, usually provided by the hospice staff. The study further confirmed the value of palliative care. Services provided offered a number of benefits for the patients for instance, enhanced hope, mobility, as well as improved state of health for these patients. At the same time the study underscored the value of spiritual guidance. However this was provided as an additional service, being offered outside the hospice. Measures to integrate this service would improve the value of palliative care services in general. Further, it was noted that there was no particular time frame for receiving palliative care at the hospice since patients receive care at different intervals. The study also disclosed that patients’ illnesses impacted on their families negatively for example, a number of these patients were either abandoned or separated from their families, their families suffered financial strains while others were in denial and felt very desperate about the whole situation. The study conclusively indicated that social workers can play a vital role in palliative care provision by either conducting regular home visits, educating and creating awareness as well as offering counselling services to both the patients and their families. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW (Health Care) / Unrestricted

The inclusion of social workers in delivering and maintaining excellent mental health services is key. Good quality social work can transform the lives of people with mental health illnesses and is an essential part of a multidisciplinary and interrelated team (Lamb, 2014:2). Furthermore, social workers play a pivotal role in improving health services and mental health outcomes for all citizens (Allen, 2014:5). However, the state of mental health services in South African is declining. This is also observed in other African countries as well as globally (Allen, 2014:5; Lamb, 2014:2). Even though South Africa has progressive mental health legislation, there are a number of challenges to the financing and development of mental health services (Eaton, McCay, Semrau, Chatterjee, Baingana, Araya, Ntulo, Thornicroft & Saxena, 2011:1593). These challenges have resulted in psychiatric hospitals remaining outdated; a scarcity of mental health professionals; an inability to develop tertiary level psychiatric services; and an underdeveloped community for mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation services (Burns, 2011:100). The goal of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of social workers in the provision of mental health services in South Africa specifically in Southern Free State Mental Health; Vaal mental health; Kungwini welfare organisation; and YANA. A qualitative research approach was used in the present study. Applied research was conducted and the study made use of both exploratory and descriptive research purposes. Both research purposes allowed the researcher to explore and develop a deeper understanding of a notion that had not been explored in South Africa before (Babbie, 2017:97; Fouche & De Vos, 2011:95). The research design that was utilised in the present study was the case study research design, specifically instrumental case study (Nieuwenhuis, 2016:81). Semi-structured one-on-one and virtual interviews were used. The findings relate to the following factors that contribute to the experiences of social workers rendering mental health services: knowledge and understanding of mental health services; roles and tasks of a social worker in mental health; skills required to provide mental health services; knowledge and understanding of mental of health policies; challenges experienced by social workers rendering mental health services; training in the provision of mental health services; social work supervision; and suggestions to better equip mental health social workers and improve mental health services. The findings further revealed that a lack of resources have a great influence on the provision of mental health services. / Mini Dissertation (MSW (Healthcare))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Humanities Education / MSW (Healthcare) / Unrestricted

(in English): The diploma thesis pursue the use of communication skills of social workers in reception centers for families with children. The main objective is to identify communication skills and consequent development in the field of communication of social workers in reception centers in order to increase the effectiveness of work with the target group. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first theoretical part describes in more detail the terms related to the use of communication skills of social workers. For the second empirical part of the work, a qualitative method is used, which is performed by semi- structured interviews with social workers in reception centers. The research focuses on communication skills, barrier options, skills development and psychohygiene. The last third part of the thesis contains the interpretation of the results, discussion and conclusion. Klíčová slova (anglicky): communication skills, social worker, barriers, development, client

The aim of this study is to examine how supervisors at a Jobbcentrum works with the elder unemployed and what difficulties and challenges there may be in being able to guide elder unemployed into employment. This study is based on a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews with six different supervisors at Jobbcentrum. The theories used in the study are Empowerment and Self-Efficacy. At the same time, concepts such as age discrimination and Motivational conversations were used, to have a greater understanding of the work of supervisors. The results of the study show that Motivational interviewing, Empowerment and Self-Efficacy are an important starting point in the work with the unemployed. Another important result highlighted by the participants in the study is the difficulties that the elder unemployed encounters in the form of discrimination based on age, as well as obstacles in the form of not being considered to have the language skills or the educational background that employers seek.

The purpose of this study was to analyze how professionals in schools and social workers experience the work with young people who commit crimes. The purpose of the study has been achieved through a qualitative method where four social workers and four school staff were interviewed. The interviews were semi-structured. The result has, with the help of the content analysis, been analyzed based on previous research and the social bond theory. All informants agreed that social vulnerability and lack of relationships and leisure activities were factors that can lead to juvenile delinquency. Furthermore, the majority of the informants experienced that early intervention was crucial, and that a sense of coherence is important. The working methods used are largely similar and the informants are also positive towards them. The result was largely similar to what the previous research and theory addressed.