Mental illness among parents may lead to negative consequences for the unborn child and its future. Pregnant women who experience mental illness are not typically one of Sweden's social service's focus groups, although voluntary preventive social work is an exception. The aim of this qualitative interview study was to investigate social workers' experiences of working with this preventive approach toward this specific group of women. The objectives in the study were what obstructive and facilitating factors social workers encounter, how their work with clients enable a social worker-client relationship, and lastly what results this preventive social work may have. Obstructive and facilitating circumstances were found on both an organizational and an interpersonal level. Social workers' possibilities of using their wide room for action were shown to be of importance to create and build a relationship with the pregnant woman. It was also discovered that preventive social work may lead to a number of positive consequences for both the mother-to-be and the coming child. Attachment between the two and the woman's belief in herself as a competent parent may develop, and the abilty to reach out and ask for help if there is a need in the future was thought to increase. Based on this study, it is possible to distinguish a number of conclusions: the first one being preventive social work results in beneficial consequences for both woman and child. Secondly, social workers' wide framework allows them to build a relationship with the pregnant woman, and this relationship based practice is crucial for preventive social work to take place.

There is renewed interest in the role that direct work and relationship-based practice does, should, or could play, in social work practice with children and young people. This study used a qualitative approach to explore day-to-day direct work with children and young people who are ‘looked after’ at home, from the perspectives of children, social workers and those supervising practice. The thesis explores the meanings ascribed to direct work, and identifies factors which enable direct work, and those which act as barriers. The research was undertaken in Scotland, and although the legislation, policy, and guidance underpinning practice differ from other jurisdictions, the messages to emerge are relevant across the UK and beyond. The study found that despite the existence of barriers, direct work which is characterised as meaningful by children, young people and professionals does happen; and that the relationships formed between children and social workers are both a precursor to and an outcome of direct work. A core theme is that although individual relationships are central, the everyday encounters between children and their social workers need to be understood and situated within the personal, professional and structural contexts in which they take place.

The aim of this study was to examine the definition and meaning of a relationship-based social work, and what conditions are required for the professional to manage such. Based on seven qualitative interviews with professional social workers who work with children and adolescents, a thematic analysis was conducted based on the theoretical frameworks of Symbolic Interactionism and the organisational theories of Human Service Organisations and Street-Level Bureaucracy. The main results confirm the importance of the relationship between the client and the professional according to the respondents. Role clarity and empathy through self-awareness were seen as important qualities of the professional to maintain a good relationship with the child, for whom this might lead to a sense of security through the relationship continuity. Mentioned conditions that facilitated the possibility of relationship based client work were mostly organisational variables such as time and discretion. These were variables that varied depending on the organisation that the professionals worked within, leading to a comparative discussion between the organisational conditions of social services and schools. Another theme identified was experience which seemed to matter as a personal skill. These conditions affect the professional’s ability to create and maintain relationships with the children.

The aim of this study was to examine the definition and meaning of a relationship-based social work, and what conditions are required for the professional to manage such. Based on seven qualitative interviews with professional social workers who work with children and adolescents, a thematic analysis was conducted based on the theoretical frameworks of Symbolic Interactionism and the organisational theories of Human Service Organisations and Street-Level Bureaucracy. The main results confirm the importance of the relationship between the client and the professional according to the respondents. Role clarity and empathy through self-awareness were seen as important qualities of the professional to maintain a good relationship with the child, for whom this might lead to a sense of security through the relationship continuity. Mentioned conditions that facilitated the possibility of relationship based client work were mostly organisational variables such as time and discretion. These were variables that varied depending on the organisation that the professionals worked within, leading to a comparative discussion between the organisational conditions of social services and schools. Another theme identified was experience which seemed to matter as a personal skill. These conditions affect the professional’s ability to create and maintain relationships with the children.