Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur kuratorer på familjecentraler arbetar med att identifiera och hantera våld i nära relationer hos mödrar de möter och deras barn. För att uppnå syftet användes en kvalitativ metod. Sex enskilda intervjuer med kuratorer på familjecentraler från fem olika kommuner i Mellansverige genomfördes. Empirin analyserades med hjälp av positioneringsteori samt begreppet etisk stress. I resultatet påvisade kuratorerna komplexiteten i att bemöta våld i nära relationer. Ett starkt mönster i resultatet är att kuratorerna använder sig av en rad olika strategier i samtal med våldsutsatta. Andra faktorer som påverkar kuratorernas bemötande är deras kunskap och erfarenhet kring ämnet våld i nära relationer samt organisatoriska förutsättningar. Resultatet visar vidare att i kuratorernas roll finns en motstridighet gällande att verka stödjande och skapa allianser men samtidigt behöva förhålla sig till sin anmälningsskyldighet. För att skapa och upprätthålla allianser använder sig kuratorerna av olika strategier. Kuratorerna arbetar på olika sätt för att identifiera våld, vilket inkluderar att ställa frågor på rutin eller vid indikation. Slutsatsen visar att det är komplext för kuratorerna att upptäcka och bemöta våld, samt att motstridigheten i deras roll skapar gråzoner. Slutsatsen påvisar också att kuratorerna har effektiva strategier för att bemöta väl identifierat våld, men att effektiviteten i strategierna de använder för att identifiera våldet varierar. / The aim of this study was to examine how counselors working at family centers strive to identify and handle domestic violence experienced by mothers they meet and their children. To achieve the aim of the study a qualitative method was used. Six individual interviews with counselors working at family centers in five different municipalities in the middle part of Sweden were performed. The material was analyzed using positioning theory and the concept of ethical stress. The result casts a light on the complexity of managing domestic violence. A pattern shown in the result is how the counselors use an array of different strategies when working with victims of violence. Something that affected how the counselors handled meeting victims of abuse was their knowledge and experience surrounding the subject of domestic violence and organizational circumstances. The results also show how there is a contradiction embedded in the role of the counselor regarding them working to support victims of domestic violence and working to create alliance but at the same time having an obligation to make reports of concern when necessary. The counselors use different strategies to create and uphold alliances. Furthermore, they also work in different ways to identify violence, which includes having a routine where questions about violence are asked or asking questions about violence only when violence is indicated. The conclusion shows that it is a complex task to discover and handle violence, and that the contradiction in the role of the counselor creates grey areas. Additionally, the conclusion shows that the counselors have effective strategies to handle violence that has been identified, but the level of effectiveness of their strategies connected to identifying violence varies.

Prior studies have shown that individuals with disabilities, especially those with communication disabilities, are at higher risk for being exposed to domestic violence. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare recommend the municipal social services to use Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) as a means to facilitate communication with such individuals. Further, it is recommended that the social services use a standardized instrument called FREDA-risk assessment to ask clients about domestic violence. However, little is known about the use of those instruments among LSS administrators who handle service and support for individuals with disabilities, who may also have communication disabilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of FREDA- risk assessment and AAC among LSS administrators, and to explore whether the use of AAC affects the use of FREDA-risk assessment. In order to do so, a digital survey was conducted, in which 366 respondents spread over 144 municipalities participated. The results show that both instruments are not use at their full potential and that the use of AAC could facilitate the use of FREDA- risk assessment. Implications for social work practice and further research are discussed.