There is a consensus in Sweden that children are right-bearers and shall participate in matters that affect them among legislators, the government’s instructions by Barns Behov I Centrum (BBIC) (Child’s needs in focus) and among social workers. Despite this, previous research shows that children’s participation in social investigations is limited. The aim of this study is to analyse and interpret how social worker’s describe and understand children’s participation in their daily work at a social welfare unit. It is their perception of child participation that is studied. The data consists of interviews with nine social workers investigating children of 0-12 years of age at three social welfare units in municipalities’ in the outskirts of Stockholm. The theoretical perspective of this study is childhood sociology. The social workers in this study regard children as competent enough to receive information as well as capable contributors to the investigations. Participation was viewed as a cornerstone in their work with children. Children were described as capable of communicating information and their perspective on their situation through speech, behaviour or play indicating that all children can contribute despite age. But oral communication dominates and has a higher value, showing that age and maturity has an impact on children’s participation. Restrictions by guardians, time-restraint and heavy workloads also limited children’s participation during the investigation.

The thesis is focused on the issue of care allowance. The theoretical part contains basic information about this social benefit. There are described various forms of administrative proceedings. It is imperative that you know the social services that you can turn to if necessary, so they are also mentioned in the work. Attention is paid to the characteristics of the social worker. The practical part aims to give the reader an insight into this issue. There are actual stories of people here to see where difficult people can be. The questionnaire survey found that the respondents had a negative experience with the care allowance, as the proceedings took several months. Furthermore, it was found that the primary information about this social benefit is learned from the doctor. Research has shown that they most often need help with shopping, household cleaning, or hygiene. These are tasks that are physically demanding for the respondents and often helped by family members.

The thesis discusses the conditions of admission assessment of the applicants to a social service home for the elderly . This work compares how 35 selected services home for the elderly provided by the selection of new user requirements with respect to their procedure. The thesis explains the sub concepts such as old age, quality of life, the role of the family in relation to the elderly, social work with the elderly , social service home for the elderly , the role of social worker. The research part consists of an analysis of requests for provision of social services , their attachments and general legislative documents relating to the provision of social services and the selection of a new applicant. Work also focuses on the registration of social services . Last but not least is about ethical aspects related to the selection of a new user.