Men's violence against women is a serious violation of human rights. Women are far more likely to experience violent acts or abuse by someone close to them rather than by strangers. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex problem and victims are often in need of support by social services as well as by other professionals. The aim of this study is to examine how social service employees perceive the cooperation with other professionals within the area of IPV. The study is based on six qualitative interviews with 10 social service employees, working with IPV, from a selection of districts and municipalities within Stockholm County. Our results were analyzed by using Axelsson and Bihari Axelsson’s (2013) theories of cooperation. The results show that cooperation is seen as a highly valued and inevitable part of social work within the area of IPV and the responsibility for managing IPV cases are often left to the social service employees to be handled alone. Meanwhile, the social service employees describe insufficient time and not enough staff as evident restrictions for successful cooperation with other professionals. In conclusion, IPV needs to be prioritized on all levels within the organization to improve the possibilities for cooperation.

Syftet var att undersöka hur handläggare inom socialtjänsten upplever sina förutsättningar att arbeta enligt socialtjänstlagen gällande missbruk av spel om pengar. Sju handläggare från sex kommuners vuxenenheter deltog i kvalitativa intervjuer. Resultatet visade att de flesta informanter upplever sig ha goda förutsättningar att utföra sitt arbete på ett adekvat sätt. Detta uppgavs bero på såväl individuella som kontextuella faktorer. Resultatet visade även att informanterna arbetar på olika sätt och att få använder rekommenderade metoder. Informanterna angav att de i första hand överväger om klientens hjälpbehov kan tillgodoses genom öppenvårdsinsatser. En majoritet uppgav sig ha tillräckliga kunskaper om spelproblem, den reviderade socialtjänstlagen och socialtjänstens utökade ansvarsområde. Samverkan med hälso- och sjukvården beskrevs vara utmanande. Den främsta fördelen med lagändringarna uppgavs vara möjligheten att hjälpa fler människor. Studiens viktigaste slutsatser var att förebyggande arbete och samverkan mellan olika huvudmän bör prioriteras i högre utsträckning. / The aim was to examine how social workers perceive their prerequisites to work according to the social services act regarding gambling addiction. Seven social workers from six municipalities were interviewed in a qualitative study. The result showed that most feel that they have good prerequisites due to both individual and contextual factors. The results also showed that the informants work differently and that few use recommended methods. The informants stated that they primarily consider whether the client's needs can be met through outpatient care. A majority stated that they have sufficient knowledge of gambling problems, the revised social services act and the social services' expanded area of ​​responsibility. Collaboration with health care was described as challenging. The main benefit of the legislative changes was stated to be the opportunity to help more people. The study's most important conclusions were that preventive work and collaboration between authorities should be prioritized.

<p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The purpose of this essay is to examine trust, or lack of trust, in the social services. Previous research considering this topic is limited, which, in our point of view, implies the need of further studies. A quantative method was used, consisting of an online questionnaire containing statements about the social services. The statements were designed using a five level Likert-scale which required the respondent to rate their level of agreement. The questionnaire was published on five webcommunities directed to parents. We found, as previous research has shown, that the majority of the public, who lack personal experience of the social services, find it difficult to respond to statements about institutions such as the social services. Our results also indicates that the social services fail to gain the trust of a majority of the respondents and more then half of the respondents are of the opinion that the social services is in absence of the knowledge that they need to carry out their work. Despite these results half of the respondents would initiate a contact with the social services if they felt the need to do so.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p>

<p>This essay deals with the social services cooperation with the private sector relating to foster care. The aim was to examine whether and what the causes may be that the social service transfer tasks of authority to private actors. Furthermore, we have examined and discussed if such a working procedure can lead to consequences for the individual child and how / if the children's legal security is affected. Survey methodology is qualitative in nature where we conducted semi-structured interviews with three persons who work in different ways to be involved in work with a foster family. We have also made use of questionnaires sent to social workers around the country.</p><p>The result has been interpreted on the basis inter alia, legal texts, legislative history, and two theories which have their origin in organization theory. Our results show that some municipalities do not feel that they have the resources to investigate the family. Furthermore, it appears that the cooperation of the social services have with the private sectors has declined, perhaps because of clearer legislation of 2008, or because of the sharp criticism that they received from the provincial government. Our study also shows that some municipalities still leaves management tasks to the private sector, without legal basis. Since there is no control over who is inquiring the family a result of this can be that a child is growing up in unsuitable environments, which in itself can affect the rule of law.</p>

The purpose of this essay is to examine trust, or lack of trust, in the social services. Previous research considering this topic is limited, which, in our point of view, implies the need of further studies. A quantative method was used, consisting of an online questionnaire containing statements about the social services. The statements were designed using a five level Likert-scale which required the respondent to rate their level of agreement. The questionnaire was published on five webcommunities directed to parents. We found, as previous research has shown, that the majority of the public, who lack personal experience of the social services, find it difficult to respond to statements about institutions such as the social services. Our results also indicates that the social services fail to gain the trust of a majority of the respondents and more then half of the respondents are of the opinion that the social services is in absence of the knowledge that they need to carry out their work. Despite these results half of the respondents would initiate a contact with the social services if they felt the need to do so.

This essay deals with the social services cooperation with the private sector relating to foster care. The aim was to examine whether and what the causes may be that the social service transfer tasks of authority to private actors. Furthermore, we have examined and discussed if such a working procedure can lead to consequences for the individual child and how / if the children's legal security is affected. Survey methodology is qualitative in nature where we conducted semi-structured interviews with three persons who work in different ways to be involved in work with a foster family. We have also made use of questionnaires sent to social workers around the country. The result has been interpreted on the basis inter alia, legal texts, legislative history, and two theories which have their origin in organization theory. Our results show that some municipalities do not feel that they have the resources to investigate the family. Furthermore, it appears that the cooperation of the social services have with the private sectors has declined, perhaps because of clearer legislation of 2008, or because of the sharp criticism that they received from the provincial government. Our study also shows that some municipalities still leaves management tasks to the private sector, without legal basis. Since there is no control over who is inquiring the family a result of this can be that a child is growing up in unsuitable environments, which in itself can affect the rule of law.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the degree of discipline in social services may be the reason why more children are evicted in one municipality in Stockholm, compared to another. Since our purpose was to study the degree of discipline in social services work with eviction cases where children are concerned, discipline is therefore a central part of the study. The interest in the subject arose from our prior understanding that social services approach to discipline may affect the extent of evictions. In order to answer the study’s question at issue, a qualitative interview was conducted to create an understanding of the discipline and a vignette study was conducted to compare the social workers assessments in two municipalities in Stockholm, Högstad and Lågby. The study's interviews and vignette study was complemented with previous research related to the topic. The theoretical perspective was the basis for the analysis of the empirical study and consisted interconnection of theory by Michel Foucaults as well as Greta Marie Skaus and Erich Fromms perspective which helped us create a better understanding of the discipline in social services. In conclusion, we discussed thoughts and ideas that arose during the study and the results show, among other things, obvious elements of discipline in social services. Additional knowledge from the study contributed to increased understanding was in which way the social services approach to discipline affects their assessments in eviction cases where children are concerned.

Syftet med vår studie har varit att öka kunskapen om hur socialsekreterare upplever sitt arbete med barnavårdsutredningar och hur de beskriver hanteringen av olika intressen i utredningsprocessen. Inom detta område har vi studerat vilka intressen som kan finnas i en barnavårdsutredning, hur socialsekreterare hanterar dessa och hur de upplever sitt arbete. Vi har använt oss av en kvalitativ metod där vi har intervjuat sex yrkesverksamma socialsekreterare. Utifrån dessa intervjuer har vi fått ett resultat som har visat att det finns många intressen i en barnavårdsutredning. Socialsekreterarna beskriver hur de företräder barnets intresse samtidigt som de behöver förhålla sig till föräldrarna, den egna organisationens, lagstiftningen och andra aktörer som skola, förskola och Barn- och ungdomspsykiatrin, BUP. Ibland kan det uppstå motsättningar mellan dessa intressen och för att hantera detta har vi sett några strategier som socialsekreterarna använder sig av. De har betonat betydelsen av ett fungerande samarbete med andra aktörer och belyser även vikten av att det egna ansvarsområdet är tydligt. Det är viktigt att veta vad som är socialsekreterarens egna uppgifter och vad som är andras uppgifter. I resultatet har det även framkommit att informanterna upplever sitt arbete som svårt och komplext, men samtidigt upplever flera det som meningsfullt att arbetet innebär att de kan bidra till förändring och att de företräder människors rättigheter. Den här beskrivningen från informanterna har vi också kunnat se genom tidigare forskning. Socialsekreterarens arbete beskrivs som komplext och som ett motsättningsfullt uppdrag, samtidigt som det också beskrivs som meningsfullt. De resultat som vi har fått har vi analyserat med hjälp av begrepp tagna från organisationsteori, nyinstitutionell organisationsteori, KASAM samt tidigare forskning. Vi för sedan också en diskussion kring resultatet då vi bland annat ställer oss frågor om socialsekreterarens roll och innebörden av meningsfullhet i arbetet.

The study aims to illustrate how women victims of male violence in intimate relationships are treated during the legal process and with professional perspective describe what women’s experiences considered to be in the legal process. The study also aims to draw attention to the interventions for abused women during the legal process. The results are based on interviews with professionals in the justice system, and on observations in the courtroom. Overall our results show that abused women are in need of a great quantity of help and support before, during and after the negotiation. The legal process is very stressful for the women. In conclusion, we believe that the social services should take greater responsibility for abused women during the legal process and provide support to women so that they are able to get through the legal process without a great deal of emotional damage.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka vilka föreställningar om våld i nära relationer som socialsekreterare på olika enheter inom Socialtjänsten ger uttryck för samt hur deras handlingsutrymme kan tänkas påverkas av dessa föreställningar. Syftet besvarades genom två fokusgruppsintervjuer med socialsekreterare inom Socialtjänsten. I resultatet framkom att män oftast förknippas med våldsutövande och kvinnor med våldsutsatthet.  Mäns våld uppfattas allvarligare än kvinnors våld och våld i samkönade nära relationer vilket kopplades samman med könsstereotypa föreställningar. Hjälpen till våldsutsatta kvinnor uttrycks bestå i att hon ska lämna mannen och motiveras till detta. Det framkom också föreställningar om att våldsutövare inte vill ha hjälp och att motivera våldsutövare inte ansågs lika viktigt som att motivera kvinnliga offer. En viktig slutsats i studien har varit att de föreställningar Socialsekreterare bär på är betydelsefulla i förståelsen om vem som är offer respektive förövare samt att arbetet med våldsutövare bör lyftas och utvecklas för att förbättras. / Conceptions about domestic violence – who are the victim, who are the perpetrator?   The purpose of this study was to investigate the conceptions social worker, in various units, have of domestic violence, and how their capabilities can be affected by these beliefs. The purpose is answered by two focus group interviews with social workers in Social services. The result showed that men most often associated with the use of violence and women's vulnerability to violence. Men's violence is perceived more severe than women's violence and violence in same-sex intimate relationships, which were connected to gender stereotypes. Help for abused women according to the social workers expression is that she should leave the man, and as a social worker justify that action. It also emerged that aggressors do not want help and to motivate aggressors were not considered as important as to justify female victims. An important conclusion of the study was that the conceptions social worker has are important for the understanding of who are the victims and perpetrators, and the work with perpetrators of violence should emphasize and develops to improve.