Society is obliged to intervene when children are harmed. The social services have an obligation to initiate an assessment for the children who are at risk of harm. During the assessment process, there are difficulties and obstacles that the social service workers  encounter in the work for the best interests of the child. The purpose of this study is to  illustrate the social service workers’ work with abused children (0-18 years) and their parents, in order to analyze obstacles and difficulties in the work for the Barnets bästa, (best interestsof the child) in childcare assessment. The study is based on four semi-structured interviews with social service workers from two larger municipalities that work in Swedish social services with child welfare inquiries. We were able to identify four specific difficulties which the social service workers experienced that affected the work with child assessment. These difficulties are the following: The police preliminary investigation, the meeting with childrenand parents, the workload and Handlingsutrymme (the room for maneuver). Finally, socialservice workers see the legislation as a complicating factor when it comes to working for the best interests of the child. The study then deepens the understanding of the result through an analysis based on Lipsky's theory of Street-level bureaucracy and organizational theory.

”Barnets rätt att bli hörd gäller alla barn. ... Men det räcker inte att endast lyssna på barnet. När barnet har förmåga att bilda sig en egen uppfattning måste barnets åsikter dessutom tillmätas betydelse.” (Barnombudsmannen, 2021). Syftet med studien är att undersöka samt öka kunskapen om vilka förutsättningar barn får för delaktighet. Det har genomförts kvalitativa semi-strukturerade intervjuer med åtta socialsekreterare för att undersöka hur socialsekreterare arbetar med samt tillämpar barns delaktighet i socialtjänstens barnavårdsutredningar. Respondenterna har berättat om sin förståelse av barns delaktighet, hur de arbetar med barnsamtal, hur beslutsunderlag utformas utifrån barns berättelser och om utmaningar med att göra barn delaktiga i utredningar. Materialet har analyserats i en tematisk analys utifrån barndomssociologin och Harts delaktighetsstege. Resultat visar att det krävs ytterligare arbete för att barn ska bli hörda inom socialtjänsten men att det inte är den enskilda socialsekreteraren som bär ansvaret för förändring. Det finns behov av en strukturell och organisatorisk förändring inom det sociala arbetets praktik för att barn inte endast ska ges förutsättningar att höras men också bli hörda inom socialtjänsten. / ”A child’s right to be heard applies to all children. … But it is not enough to just listen to the child. When a child has the ability to form his or her own opinion, the child’s opinions must also be given importance.” (Barnombudsmannen, 2021). The aim of this study is to investigate and increase knowledge about the conditions for children’s participation. Qualitative semi-structured interviews have been conducted with eight social service workers, to investigate how they work with and apply the principle of children’s’ participation in the social services’ child welfare investigations. The respondents have been interviewed about their understanding of children’s participation, how they work with individual conversations with children, how decision basis is designed based on children’s stories and about challenges in involving children in investigations. The material has been analyzed in a thematic analysis based on childhood sociology and Hart’s ladder of children’s participation. Results show that further work is required for children to be heard in the social services, but that it is not the individual social service workers’ who are responsible for a change. There is a need for structural and organizational change in the practice of social work so that children are not only given the conditions to be listened to, but also to be heard in the social services.

Individuals with substance abuse or mental illness/neuropsychiatric disorderssuffer a higher risk of developing comorbidity. Due to the complexity of comorbidity individuals may often need multiple support from both social services and health care. Previous studies have shown that the relationship is a crucial aspect of the recovery process between the social worker and the client. It needs to be based on mutual trust, user participation and clarity. Social workers had to balance between individuals right over their own life situations and the responsibility to decide on compulsory care when the person opposes help and exposes their life to serious injury. The study aimed to investigate how socialworkers described the experience of responding to and support individuals living with comorbidity. The method chosen was semi-structured interviews with six social workers from four municipalities in Skåne. The findings showed attempts to contemplate different challenges of individuals. There were noted difficulties when investigating a person due to their mental health. Furthermore, their experiences were described as motivating and humane work. Their experience described the role of a social worker as a representative between a zero tolerance society and to start working with the client where they were. In addition, it was noted as important to familiarize oneself with aspects that the substance abuse contributed to. The insights into why individuals resorted to substance use opened up discussions about alternative solutions that did not include addiction. The reflections that emerged were adaptations of how meetings were designed and how the individuals were made involved, through the help of different strategies to examine the individual’s wishes.

Thesis (Ph.D.(Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Community education has driven change in societies for time immemorial. The successes of educational services in influencing socio-economic issues in societies across the globe are captured through empirical studies. There are community education services conducted in the Gravelotte community, but they seem not to address socio-economic needs. The level of illiteracy and joblessness is not abated. The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which community education services in the Gravelotte community influences socio-economic issues. Qualitative study approach was employed in the study to investigate the subject. The research paradigm engaged was Interpretive within a case study. I used three methods to collect data which were in-depth individual interviews, document analysis and participant observation. Ten participants were interviewed individually using open-ended interview guides. Minutes, journals and related documents were analysed for data triangulation. I participated and observed public meetings and stakeholders’ gatherings within the area under study. The study was conducted in the small semi-urban area of Gravelotte community in Ba-Phalaborwa municipality with a population of about 500 residents of mixed races. The sampling was done purposively as the participants were requested to respond to a matter relative within the community. The generated data was thematically analysed. I interpreted the data generated from informants to make conclusions on answering the main research question. The study brought forth the following findings. There is no secondary school in the Gravelotte community which is detrimental for socio economic development in the area. Community education programmes offered in Gravelotte have significant successes. Several graduates from the TVET college can find employment and some of them start their businesses. The ABET centre in Gravelotte Primary assists mine workers to earn better salaries. There is evidence of success in the education programmes provided in the Gravelotte community. However, the study discovered that the programmes were offered amidst challenges. Planning, participation and partnership were identified as obstacles to proper implementation of education programmes. The use of common planning to deal with educational goals is most required to enhance the success of educational programmes. There is an increased appreciation by the local community to participate in educational matters. Partnerships are being forged between the local community, the municipality and the mines to address the successful implementation of educational programmes. The study recommends that one primary school in the area be empowered to proceed to include a secondary school or provide education up to grade 9. Additionally, that more research is directed into the gap between provision and demand in the future such that the challenges can be extensively investigated. Likewise, that further researches be encouraged to investigate the ability of TVET colleges to collaborate with local communities with intent to find solutions on educational challenges. In conclusion, the study clearly outlines the effects that education has on the socio-economic issues within the Gravelotte community. There are diverse opinions that support each other in areas that are very important for socio-economic development

Studien är en kvantitativ enkätundersökning och tar hjälp av tidigare forskning för att stryka dess resultat. Heder är ett ämne som ständigt är aktuellt och flera myndigheter i Sverige arbetar aktivt med att motverka det våld och förtryck som sker inom hederskulturer. Syftet med studien är att undersöka om det finns skillnader i attityder kring hur anställda inom socialtjänstens barn och ungdoms kontor ser på unga män gentemot unga kvinnor inom hederskulturer.  Studien är viktig då den påvisar attitydskillnader hos de anställda på socialtjänsten där de unga männen betraktas som mindre utsatta när det gäller dessa undersökta områden: skam, utfrysning, hot om våld, upplevelsen av våld, dubbelliv, tvångsäktenskap, offerskap och att tvingas styra sina familjemedlemmar i jämförelse med de unga kvinnorna. Fokuset i studien är att belysa de unga männens situation av att vara offer inom hederskulturer. Studien bidrar till att öka kunskapen om de unga männens situation men mer forskning inom området efterfrågas. / The study is a quantitative survey and takes the help of previous research to strengthen its results. Honor is a topic that is constantly relevant and several authorities in Sweden are actively working to counteract the violence and oppression that takes place in honor cultures. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether there are differences in attitudes about how employees in the social services' children and youth offices view young men in comparison with young women in honor cultures. The study is important as it shows differences in attitudes among employees in the social services where the young men are considered less vulnerable in these areas studied: shame, ostracism, threats of violence, the experience of violence, double life, forced marriage, being a victim and being forced to control their family members in comparison with the young women. The focus of the study is to shed light on the young men's situation of being a victim in honor cultures. The study contributes to increasing knowledge about the young men's situation, but more research in the field is requested.

Våldet mot kvinnorna är idag ett stort socialt problem som diskuteras världen över och är ett högst aktuellt ämne i Sverige. Socialtjänsten bär det yttersta ansvaret för att hjälpa och stötta dessa kvinnor. Stor del av våldet sker bakom stängda dörrar där socialtjänstens svårighet blir att identifiera och nå fram till de kvinnor som är utsatta. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka de vanligaste insatserna som socialtjänsten använder sig utav i sitt arbete och ifall Covid-19 pandemin har påverkat arbetet. Vi undersökte även socialarbetenas kompetens samt effekten av de insatser som används i arbetet. Vårt material består av kvantitativa data i form av enkäter insamlade från 55 socialarbetare. Majoriteten av socialarbetarna är socionomer som erhållit specifik utbildning om våldsutsatta kvinnor. De vanligaste insatserna som de arbetar med är stödsamtal och skyddat boende medans ekonomiskt bistånd, som är en avgörande insats för huruvida kvinnorna kan frigöra sig från sin partner, inte används i lika stor utsträckning. Covid-19 pandemin har visat sig haft en påverkan på hur socialtjänsten arbetar då fysiska möten ersatts med digitaliserade möten vilket påverkat utfallet för kvinnorna. Antalet utredningar har inte visat sig öka under pandemin men det finns en oro inför en kommande ökning när samhället öppnar upp igen. Något som framkom i studien och är viktigt att lyfta är att socialtjänsten bör arbeta utifrån varje individs specifika behov för att kunna hjälpa kvinnorna på bästa sätt. Hur socialtjänsten använder sig utav olika insatser och hur de ställer om verksamheten i en samhällskatastrof, såsom Covid-19 pandemin, är något som det krävs vidare forskning inom. / Violence against women is today a major social problem that is discussed around the world and is a highly topical issue in Sweden. The social services carry the ultimate responsibility for helping and supporting these women. Much of the violence takes place behind closed doors where the social services difficulty becomes to identify and reach the women who are vulnerable. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efforts that the social services use in their work and whether the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the work. We also examined the skills of social workers and the effect of the tools used in the work. Our material consists of quantitative data in the form of surveys collected from 55 social workers. The majority of social workers have a degree as a Socionom who have received a specific education about abused women. The most common tools they work with are supportive meetings and sheltered housing, while financial aid, which is a crucial tool for whether women can free themselves from their partner, is not used to the same extent. The Covid-19 pandemic has been shown to have an impact on how the social services work as physical meetings have been replaced by digitized meetings, which has affected the outcome for the women. The number of investigations has not been shown to increase during the pandemic, but there is concern about a future increase when society reopens. Something that emerged in the study and is important to highlight is that the social services should work based on each individual's specific needs in order to be able to help women in the best way. How the social services use their tools and how they reajust their work during a societal crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, is something that requires further research.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka förändringar enskilda socialarbetare på socialtjänsten upplever efter en HBTQI-utbildning samt vilka arbetssätt kring HBTQI-frågor som förekommer. Genom kvalitativa intervjuer med sex stycken socialarbetare och med hjälp av tematisk analysmetod har dessa tre teman framkommit: yttre påverkansfaktorer, normkritiskt arbete och klientkontakt. I resultatet framkommer det att HBTQI-utbildningen bidrar till ett normkritiskt förhållnings- och arbetssätt, som levandehålls om förutsättningarna tillåter det. Informanternas människosyn har förändrats efter utbildningen och de upplever sig arbeta inkluderande, normmedvetet och självreflekterande. Med de valda teoretiska perspektiven går det att tolka resultatet som att informanterna arbetar med en antiförtryckande praktik och använder sig av reflektionsverktyg, genom detta kan de förhoppningsvis minska sin påverkan till minoritetsstress. Förhoppningen med denna studie är att bidra med en förståelse om hur en HBTQI-utbildning kan hjälpa professionella inom hela det sociala arbetet att få en inkluderande människosyn genom att arbeta normkritiskt. / The purpose of this study is to investigate what changes individual social workers experience following LGBTQI education and what kind of working methods around LGBTQI issues occur. Through qualitative interviews with six social workers and with the help of a thematic analysis method, three themes have emerged: external influencing factors, norm-critical work and client contact. The results show that the LGBTQI education contributes to a norm-critical approach and way of working, which is kept alive if the conditions allow it. After the training the informants' view of people has changed and they experience that they are working in an inclusive way, norm-consciously and self-reflective. With the chosen theoretical perspective, the results can be interpreted as follows: the informants are implementing an anti-oppressive method in their work and using tools of reflection. Through this, they can hopefully minimize their influence on minority stress. Moreover, the study aims to contribute with an understanding of how a LGBTQI education can help professionals within social work adopt an inclusive view of people by working in a norm critical way.

Studiens huvudsyfte var att undersöka vilka faktorer polisanställda upplevde som främjande respektive hindrande för en fungerande samverkan med socialtjänst, angående arbetet som berör våld i nära relationer. Syftet var även att försöka härleda dessa till organisatoriska och organisationskulturella förhållanden. Studien baserades på kvalitativa intervjuer med sex polisanställda från ett polisområde. Intervjumaterialet analyserades med tematisk analysmetod och studiens teoretiska ansats utgick från Danermarks samverkansteori. Resultatet visade på att det fanns en gemensam uppfattning om att den samverkan som fanns fungerade bra men kan utvecklas ytterligare. Påverkande faktorer som påtalades av samtliga var perspektivförståelse och kommunikation. Utöver dessa ansågs även lagstiftning, relation, organisationsvärderingar, resurser och olika förutsättningar utifrån skilda uppdrag ha en inverkan på samverkan. Faktorer såsom lagstiftning, resurser, samt olika förutsättningar beroende på uppdrag kunde härledas till organisatoriska förhållanden. Organisationsvärderingar och stereotypa förhållningssätt kunde istället härledas till organisationskulturella förhållanden. / The main purpose of this study was to investigate which factors police employees perceived as beneficial and hindering for a functioning cooperation with social services, regarding the work that concerns domestic violence. The purpose was also to try to trace these factors to organizational and organizational cultural conditions. The study was based on qualitative interviews with six police employees from one police district. The empirical data was analyzed using a thematic analysis method and the study’s theoretical approach was based on Danermark’s cooperation theory. The results showed that there was a common perception that the existing cooperation functioned well but could be further developed. Influencing factors that were pointed out by all the participants were the understanding of the other’s perspective and communication. In addition to these, legislation, relationships, organizational values, resources and different conditions based on different assignments were also considered to have an impact on the cooperation. Factors such as legislation, resources and different conditions depending on assignments could be traced to organizational conditions. Organizational values and stereotypical approaches could instead be traced to organizational cultural conditions.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka förskolepersonals upplevelse av socialtjänst, utifrån förskolepersonalens professionsperspektiv, kopplat till upplevd oro för barn i förskolan. En kvalitativ metod har använts där sex respondenter har deltagit i semistrukturerade intervjuer, där inkluderingskriterierna var att intervjupersonen arbetar i en kommun i Mellansverige med mindre än 20 000 invånare och minst tre års erfarenhet av arbetet som förskolepersonal. Resultatet visar att förskolepersonals möjligheter att göra en orosanmälan begränsas av riktlinjerna på förskolan och att det är rektorn som avgör om en orosanmälan ska göras, men även av svårigheter att definiera oro, kunskaper gällande lagtext och föräldrakontakt. Gällande upplevelsen av kommunikationen upplever förskolepersonal socialtjänsten som frånvarande. Återkoppling gällande orosanmälningar samt ett ökat engagemang från socialtjänsten att verka för att informera och göra sig synliga för förskolorna önskas. För att nyansera kommunikationen professionerna emellan och vad som påverkar förskolepersonal gällande oro om att ett barn far illa, har systemteori samt anknytningsteori använts. Föreliggande studies slutsats är att kommunikationen mellan förskola och socialtjänst bör förbättras och ansvaret till förbättring placeras på båda professionerna. / The aim of this study is to research preschool teacher’s experience of the social services, from the preschool teachers’ professional perspective, linked to perceived concerns for children in the preschool. A qualitative method is used. Six respondents participated in semi-structured interviews. All interviewees work in a municipality in Central Sweden with less than 20 000 inhabitants and have at least three years' experience as a preschool teacher. The results show that preschool teachers’ opportunities to report a concern are limited by guidelines and that the principal decides whether a report is made, but also by difficulties in defining concerns, parent contact and knowledge regarding legislations. Furthermore, the preschool teachers experience the social services as absent. Feedback regarding reports of abuse and increased commitment from the social services to inform and make themselves visible for the preschools is requested. Systems theory and attachment theory is used in order to nuance the communication between the professionals and what affects the preschool teachers regarding concerns that a child is at risk of being abused. This study concludes that communication between the two professions need improvement and that the responsibility for this is placed on both professions.

The study aimed to investigate how homeless people in Gävle municipality experience the remedial actions to stop homelessness. Eight homeless individuals, four acutely homeless and four living in municipal shelters, were interviewed for the purpose of thisresearch. The results show that the experiences of remedial actions are linked to the situation of homelessness; the majority of the interviewees, however, do not consider they receive adequate help from the social services, although they feel satisfied with the actions from the non-profit organisations. The theoretical analysis shows that insufficient efforts or lack of actions can lead to homeless people experiencing social exclusion. Finally, the results show that the interviewees wish for remedial actions that result directly in housing and thus life change. This supports the previous research that showed that similar actions are compatible with the well-being and the possibility of reintegration into society. / Studien syftade till att undersöka hur hemlösa i Gävle kommun upplever att de åtgärdande insatserna mot hemlöshet fungerar. Åtta individer som lever i hemlöshet intervjuades, varav fyra akut hemlösa samt fyra som bor på kommunala stödboenden. Resultaten visar att upplevelser av insatser är kopplade till situation av hemlöshet, dock upplever majoriteten att de inte får adekvat hjälp av socialtjänst. Vidare uppgav samtliga hemlösa att de är nöjda över de ideella insatserna från den öppna verksamheten. Utifrån den teoretiska analysen visar det sig bland annat att brister och avsaknad av insatser kan leda till att hemlösa upplever social exklusion. Resultaten visar avslutningsvis att de hemlösa önskar insatser som direkt leder till eget boende för att kunna göra en livsförändring. Detta överensstämmer med tidigare forskning som visar på att liknande insatser är förenligt med välbefinnande och möjlighet till återintegrering i samhället.