Romani people came to Sweden in the early 16th century and is today acknowledged as a minority group. Today in Sweden there’s a large group of Roma EU-citizens who come to beg. Romani people has been an exposed and discriminated group since their arrival in Sweden – a pattern that’s still relevant regarding Roma EU-citizens coming today. One profession that faces Roma EU-citizens in their work is social workers. This study aims to describe and analyse how social workers experience working with Roma EU-citizens, what difficulties or opportunities they see and how this work can be developed in the future. Furthermore, the study examines what beliefs social workers feel exists in society surrounding this group. The study uses labelling theory and theories of cultural competence. Six interviews were conducted with social workers and the study uses a qualitative approach and a hermeneutic perspective. Study results indicate that cultural differences affects working with the group. Results also show that the social workers feel there’s a lot of prejudice against the group. The study concludes that cultural competence is important in order to perform a good social work with the Romani group. Another conclusion is that structural problems complicates working with the group.

Bakgrund: I socialtjänstens utredning om barn är barnen en viktig informationskälla. I svensk lagstiftning beskrivs det att barnets bästa ska betraktas när åtgärder rör dem. Socialarbetare känner sig ibland osäkra inför samtal med barn. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilken möjlighet socialarbetarna har gällande kompetensutveckling i att samtala med barn och behovet av verksamhets ut veck l ing för att förbättra samtal med barn. I studien ingår det två arbetsgrupper, socialarbetare som arbetar inom öppenvården och socialarbetare som arbetar med främst myndighetsutövning, mellan dessa grupper kommer det ske jämförelse för att se om det finns likheter och olikheter i upplevelsen av sin kompetens. Metod: Studien har genomförts med kvantitativ metod där datainsamlingen har bestått i online - enkäter. I studien är det totalt 10 av de totalt 13 tillfrågade kommunerna i Region Jönköpings län som har tackat ja till att vara med. Av tillfrågade 77 socialarbetare inom den sociala barnavården deltog 52 (65,7 procent) och av dessa arbetar 19 inom öppenvården och 33 arbetar med myndighetsutövning. Resultat: I studien framgår det att det finns förbättringsmöjligheter i samtal med barn för socialarbetare rörande utbildning och arbetsmaterial. I studien framgår det också att det inte finns några signifikanta skillnader mellan socialsekreterare och behandlare. Slutsats: Studien tyder på att socialarbetare är i behov av mer kunskap kring samtal med barn, samt att det finns områden som behöver förbättras för att känslan i samtalet med barnet ska bli mer positiv. / Background: Children are an important source of information in the investigations of the social services. Swedish law stipulates that the best interests of the child should be considered when measures concern them. Social workers sometimes feel insecure about speaking with children. The purpose of this study is to examine the opportunities of social workers for training in speaking with children, and the need for development of the organization in order to improve conversations with children. Two groups are included in the study, social workers that work with non-institutional care, and social workers that primarily work with the exercise of public authority. These groups will be compared to see whether there are similarities and differences in their perception of competence. Method: The study has been done by a quantitative method where data has been collected with online surveys. In total, 10 of the 13 municipalities in Jönköping County have participated in the study. Out of the 77 social workers in child welfare asked to participate, 52 (65.7 per cent) chose to do so, whereof 19 work with non-institutional care and 33 with the exercise of public authority. Results: The study shows that there is room for improvement of social workers’ conversations with children with regards to education and work material. The study also shows that there are no significant differences between different types of social workers. Conclusions: The study indicates that social workers need more knowledge of speaking with children, and that there are areas that need improvement for the conversation with the child to be perceived as more positive.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The work environment in South Africa is currently undergoing dramatic changes that are caused by a variety of factors and increasing pressure is placed on industries to take more responsibilities for the wellbeing of their employees. The structure and philosophy of employee assistance programmes provide an unique opportunity to organizations to address the changing workplace and the needs of employees in a potential growth productive way. From an employers viewpoint employee assistance programmes are becoming essential for the success of present day companies and the employee assistance programme practitioner is steadily becoming part of the corporative policy formulating team. Due to the fact that there are no guidelines or much literature in the South African context regarding the application of employee assistance programmes in organizations, and in the absence of any specific practice approach for a social worker in private practice that delivers services within employee assistance programmes, the goal of this study is to provide guidelines that can serve to provide a social worker in private practice who is involved with employee assistance programmes, or that considers entering this field, with accurate and relevant information of such programmes. Guidelines won't only contribute to the application of employee assistance programmes to its full potential, but will also assist a social worker in private practice during negotiations to implement and determine an appropriate model for service delivery in a specific organization. In order to achieve the goal of this study, a literature as well as an empirical study was undertaken. The literature study had a dual purpose. Firstly it was conducted in order to describe the value of the utilization of employee assistance programmes in organizations and included the relevant concepts and elements of employee assistance programmes. Secondly, the literature study has been utilized in order to provide a useful conceptual framework for social workers in private practice by placing employee assistance programmes within the framework of the generic perspective. The findings of the literature study emphasize the re-focusing of employee assistance programmes on the dual client system with alliance to micro- as well as macro activities, as well as the fact that more specialized abilities are required from a social worker in private practice. Further, it emphasizes that employee assistance programmes provides structure to the professional activities of a social worker in private practice and as such contributes to these activities having a more effective impact in organizations. The empirical study was undertaken in order to determine the knowledge and opinion of the key personnel in organizations that are involved in the decision-making whether or not to invest in a program of this kind, and the nature of the employee assistance programme. This step has been taken, not only to make a social worker in private practice aware of the viewpoints of these people, but also to determine the possibilities for introducing an employee assistance programme in an organization and at the same time identify aspects that might be against the adoption of such a programme. The findings of the empirical study indicated that the key personnel maintain a caring philosophy towards their employees that is linked to productivity. Their expectations of an employee assistance programme is linked closely to this, and is only associated with micro level activities. Further more, the findings points to a lack of knowledge as far as the true nature, purpose and function of an employee assistance programme is concerned. In conclusion, recommendations were made based on the deductions and findings of the literature as well as the empirical study. These recommendations also serve as guidelines for a social worker in private practice who is involved with employee assistance programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dramatiese veranderinge vind tans plaas in die Suid-Afrikaanse werksmilieu wat te weeg gebring word deur 'n verskeidenheid van faktore en daar word meer druk op bedryfsondernemings geplaas om toenemend groter verantwoordelikheid te neem vir die welstand van hul werknemers. Die struktuur en filosofie van werknemershulpprogramme bied 'n unieke geleentheid aan bedryfsondernemings om die veranderde werksmilieu en behoeftes van werknemers aan te spreek op 'n potensieel groei produktiewe wyse. Van werkgewers oogpunt, raak werknemershulpprogramme essensieel vir die sukses van hedendaagse ondernemings en vorm die werknemershulpprogram-praktisyn algaande 'n deel van die korporatiewe beleidsformulering span. Vanweë die feit dat daar nie in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks riglyne of selfs veel literatuur ten opsigte van die benutting van werknemershulpprogramme in bedryfsondernemings is nie, asook 'n afwesigheid in die literatuur van enige spesifieke praktykbenadering vir 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk wat binne werknemershulpprogramme dienste lewer, is die doel van hierdie studie om riglyne daar te stel wat kan dien om 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk wat gemoeid is met werknemershulpprogramme, of wat dit oorweeg om op hierdie gebied toe te tree, toe te rus met akkurate en toepaslike inligting van sodanige programme. Riglyne, wat nie net daartoe sal bydra dat werknemershulpprogramme tot sy volle reg toegepas word nie, maar ook kan dien as hulpmiddel vir 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk tydens onderhandelinge ten opsigte van die instel, en bepaling van 'n geskikte model vir dienslewering in'n bepaalde bedryfsonderneming. Ten einde die doel van hierdie studie te bereik is 'n literatuurstudie, sowel as empiriese ondersoek gedoen. Die literatuurstudie is tweërlei van aard, eerstens is dit aangewend om die benuttingswaarde van werknemershulpprogramme in bedryfsondernemings te beskryf en is die relevante konsepte en elemente in die verband uitgelig. Tweedens is die literatuurstudie aangewend om 'n nuttige konseptuele raamwerk vir 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk te skep deur werknemershulpprogramme te bespreek binne die raamwerk van die generiese perspektief. Die bevindinge van die literatuurstudie beklemtoon die herfokussering van werknemershulpprogramme op die tweeledige kliëntsisteem met 'n verbintenis tot mikro sowel as makrovlak aktiwiteite en ook die feit dat daar as sulks 'n meer gespesialiseerde kundigheid van 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk vereis word. Verder dui dit ook daarop dat werknemershulpprogramme struktuur aan die professionele werksaamhede van 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk bied wat bydra daartoe dat dit doeltreffender inslag in bedryfsondernemings vind. Die empiriese ondersoek is gedoen ten einde die kennis en opinie van sleutelpersone betrokke in besluitneming oor die instel en aard van werknemershulpprogramme in bedryfsondernemings te bepaal. Die stap is geneem nie net om 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk bewus te maak van die sienings van die persone nie, maar ook om die moontlikhede vir die instelling van werknemershulpprogramme in bedryfsondernemings bloot te lê en terselfdertyd aspekte wat dit weerlê te identifiseer. Die bevindinge van die empiriese studie dui daarop dat die sleutelpersone 'n filosofie van besorgdheid teenoor hul werknemers openbaar wat verband hou met produktiwiteit, en dat hul verwagtinge van 'n werknemershulpprogram nou hiermee saamhang en slegs met mikrovlak aktiwiteite geassosieer word. Verder is bevindinge aanduidend van'n positiewe ingesteldheid teenoor werknemershulpprogramme, maar 'n gebrek aan kennis oor die werklike aard, doel en funksie van 'n effektiewe werknemershulpprogram. Ten slotte is aanbevelings gemaak op grond van die gevolgtrekkings soos verkry vanuit die bevindinge van die literatuur sowel as empiriese studie. Die aanbevelings dien terselfdertyd ook as riglyne vir 'n maatskaplike werker in privaat praktyk wat gemoeid is met werknemershulpprogramme.

The aim of the study is to examine and analyze social workers’ perceptions of law practice of supportive regulations for abused, undocumented women who are in need of protection, in order to problematize the connection between norm and practice in social service case management. In a qualitative approach, the study is conducted through eight interviews, based on two vignettes, with representatives from the public sector in Gothenburg. The vignettes were based on two fictive narratives that both include women who are victims of abuse, but have different ethnicity and legal status. By using vignettes it was anticipated to find whether there are different perceptions among the social workers in terms of considering the residents’ ethnicity and legal status in relation to the possibilities of receiving support. According to Swedish law the social services have responsibility to assist all residents within the country. Since the undocumented migrants have difficulties claiming their rights in the public sector, many stay in destructive relationships. The focal point of this study is the uncertainties and inconsistencies among social service staff regarding offering support to these women, especially after acute situations. The UN’s Declaration of Human Rights expresses that all humans are equal, regardless of ethnicity, gender, etc. (see declaration). Thus, rejecting a woman her right to claim social service contradicts these regulations. The results of the study relates to T.H Marshall´s, Lister´s and Fernández´s discussion about citizenship, de los Reyes theory about postcolonialism, Mattson´s intersectionality, Hasenfeld´s Human Service Organizations, Libsky´s Street-level Bureaucrat and Johansson’s Freedom of Action. Further, different concepts on new institutional theory from Johansson and Svensson, Johnsson and Laanemets, are used to analyze our data. Our selected theories, concepts and reasoning can be used to understand our empirical data in different levels in society.   The study shows that the juridical fate of undocumented women who have been subject to violence is not only determined by laws and regulations, but also on individual attitudes of social workers as well as cultural interests within an organization. These results indicate that the widely accepted notion of Sweden being an equal society, does not comply with practice. In conclusion, this study shows that social workers have an important role in the development of a women-friendly, gender inclusive theory and praxis of citizenship.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work