Authors: Carolina Magnusson and Johanna Magnusson Title: The balance between research and practice. A study of family therapist’s knowledge retrieval and the application of evidence-based practice. Supervisor: Jan Petersson Assessor: Peter Hultgren During our research we discovered that a very small amount of research had been conducted about the effect of the social services. It inspired us to fulfill this study. The aim of the study is to describe and analyze what knowledge family therapists in two Swedish municipalities use in family therapy work. We were also interested in which methods they consider having the best effect for social services. Our data collection consisted of qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted with family therapists in two Swedish municipalities. Our primary focus of the study has been the meeting that is taking shape within the family treatment and which components are key elements. Based on the results we have also been able to draw conclusions about how the function of the social services family therapy can be improved and how the work process is characterized by an evidence-based practice. We discovered that family therapist’s knowledge acquisition was extremely haphazard and not on a systematic basis, which the evidence-based model requires. Keywords / Nyckelord Evidence based social work, families/children in social care, knowledge, competence, protective and risk factors and social service. Evidensbaserad praktik, familjebehandling, familjer/barn i socialtjänsten, kunskap,kompetens, tidiga insatser och risk och skyddsfaktorer.

Abstract Authors: Carolina Magnusson and Johanna Magnusson Title:  The balance between research and practice. A study of family therapist’s knowledge retrieval and the application of evidence-based practice. Supervisor: Jan Petersson Assessor: Peter Hultgren During our research we discovered that a very small amount of research had been conducted about the effect of the social services. It inspired us to fulfill this study. The aim of the study is to describe and analyze what knowledge family therapists in two Swedish municipalities use in family therapy work. We were also interested in which methods they consider having the best effect for social services. Our data collection consisted of qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted with family therapists in two Swedish municipalities. Our primary focus of the study has been the meeting that is taking shape within the family treatment and which components are key elements. Based on the results we have also been able to draw conclusions about how the function of the social services family therapy can be improved and how the work process is characterized by an evidence-based practice. We discovered that family therapist’s knowledge acquisition was extremely haphazard and not on a systematic basis, which the evidence-based model requires.

<p>The opinion of social workers towards their work with children and young persons was</p><p>studied in this essay. Even their point of view with reference to the term the child’s best</p><p>interest has being considered and special focus was laid on the social workers attitudes</p><p>towards media coverage and its criticism towards their work. A qualitative approach was used</p><p>consisted of six interviews. The theoretical frameworks were based on the theory about</p><p>freedom of action and the theory of social representations. Our result showed that almost all</p><p>of the interviewees felt a relatively high freedom of action in their work within the framework</p><p>of the law and other policies and that despite the difficulties this can imply, they still enjoy</p><p>working with this target group. Concerning the term the child’s best interest, all of</p><p>interviewees said that it is very good that it exists but that it is also difficult to define since it</p><p>depends on whom one asks. Nearly all of the social workers thought that media coverage is</p><p>one-sided and very negative.</p>

The opinion of social workers towards their work with children and young persons was studied in this essay. Even their point of view with reference to the term the child’s best interest has being considered and special focus was laid on the social workers attitudes towards media coverage and its criticism towards their work. A qualitative approach was used consisted of six interviews. The theoretical frameworks were based on the theory about freedom of action and the theory of social representations. Our result showed that almost all of the interviewees felt a relatively high freedom of action in their work within the framework of the law and other policies and that despite the difficulties this can imply, they still enjoy working with this target group. Concerning the term the child’s best interest, all of interviewees said that it is very good that it exists but that it is also difficult to define since it depends on whom one asks. Nearly all of the social workers thought that media coverage is one-sided and very negative.