The purpose of this study is to investigate how a child's rights of speech are taken into account in child welfare investigations. A child's speech or words are not always taken seriously or as important as it should be in the child’s context. This problem has been a major topic of concern both at the national and the international level. Children want their speech of rights to be respected. It is their fundamental right that every human must guarantee to protect these rights to make a better world for future generations. Therefore in order to deeply examine the research topic, the authors used different theoretical approaches like power theory, communication theory and freedom of action. Furthermore the authors gathered more information using semi structure interviews with social workers who work with child welfare investigations. From the interview discussions, the researchers looked for recurrent themes and came with some findings that children are able to express their opinions in child welfare investigations. Children’s visibility and participation in child welfare investigations have improved since BBIC (the child’s needs at the center) has been involved in child welfare investigations. Children´s words or opinions were also ignored. More so, the actual level of how a child´s contribution directly influenced the decision making process was very unclear. The study further shows that social workers are using various communication methods and techniques to adress children's wishes and opinions to provide the best acceptable services. A well-established feedback session is made available in order to gather the children’s opinions and improve on the services.

Socialtjänsten är en verksamhet som i studier framträder som särskilt problematisk vad gäller den psykosociala arbetsmiljön, arbetsrelaterad ohälsa och personalomsättning. Mot bakgrund av socialtjänstens verksamhetsstyrning, vilken är omfattande och komplex, ställs frågan hur kommunen ser på möjligheterna att verka för en god psykosocial arbetsmiljö. I denna fallstudie har 12 nyckelaktörer med någon form av personalansvar gentemot socialsekreterarna från en och samma socialförvaltning intervjuats. Intervjuerna analyserades genom innehållsanalys med latent fokus. Resultaten visar att den bild som framträtt i forskning kring socialsekreterarnas arbetsvillkor inte nått full legitimitet på organisatorisk nivå. Resultaten visar även att det arbete som bedrivs för att stärka den psykosociala arbetsmiljön sker genom primära interventioner vars fokus riktar sig mot organisationen samt interaktionen mellan individ och organisation. Vidare antyder resultaten att kunskapen gällande verksamhetsstyrningens relation till psykosocial arbetsmiljö är i behov av utveckling. Studien tyder på att det behövs mer forskning kring sambandet mellan socialtjänstens verksamhetsstyrning och socialsekreterarnas psykosociala arbetsmiljö liksom att dialogförhållandet mellan kommuner och den statliga överbyggnaden behöver undersökas närmare. / The social services is an area that studies suggest are notably problematic when exploring the psychosocial work environment, work-related illnesses and employee turnover. In light of the complex and comprehensive operational strategy of the social services questions might be raised over the ability of municipalities to achieve a suitable, and functional, psychosocial work environment. In producing this paper, twelve key employees have been interviewed from the same social service centre. The methodology for analysis of interviews has been through ‘content analysis’ with a latent focus. There are several conclusions to be drawn. Results show that the recommendations from previous studies on improving the working conditions of social service workers have, to date, not been given their full legitimacy on an organisational level. Corrective interventions have primarily been directed both towards the organisation and the interaction between the organisation and the individual. Analysis also indicates that the understanding of the relationship between the operational strategy and the psychosocial work environment still needs to be developed. Finally, this paper shows that further research on the relationship between the operational strategy in the social services and the psychosocial work environment is still required, including research on the dialogue between the municipalities and the governmental superstructure. / <p>Uppsatsen har under AFA Försäkrings FoU-dag i Stockholm 10 november 2015 tilldelats AFA Försäkrings och Prevents stipendium “Utmärkt arbetsmiljöuppsats”. Se länken nedan för mer information:</p><p>https://www.afaforsakring.se/nyhetsrum/pressmeddelanden/2015/11/student-vid-malardalens-hogskola-tilldelas-stipendium-for-uppsats-om-socialsekreterares-arbetsmiljo/</p><p></p>

Syftet med denna uppsats var att, utifrån yrkesverksammas perspektiv, undersöka socialtjänstens arbete med mödrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning i ett nyblivet föräldraskap, samt hur de yrkesverksamma uppfattar detta arbete. För att uppnå studiens syfte har en kvalitativ metod använts. Fem enskilda intervjuer har genomförts med yrkesverksamma inom socialtjänsten i tre olika kommuner i Mellansverige. Resultatet ifrån intervjuerna tolkades och analyserades med hjälp av de två teoretiska perspektiven normalitetsdiskursen och den goda viljans diskurs. Uppsatsens teoretiska ansats kan beskrivas som socialkonstruktionism. Det framkom två övergripande former för socialtjänstens stöd till mödrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning: stöd i hemmet och stöd utanför hemmet. Stödet som erbjöds mödrarna skiljde sig inte från det stöd som fanns att tillgå för alla föräldrar som behövde stöd i ett föräldraskap. De yrkesverksamma upplevde att mödrarnas brist på insikt och deras rädsla för socialtjänsten medförde svårigheter i arbetet. Arbetet upplevdes även svårt utifrån en brist på kunskap och adekvata metoder för arbetet med mödrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning. Resultatet visade att de yrkesverksamma uppfattade mödrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning som avvikande från ett normalt föräldraskap. Det framkom skilda uppfattningar om mödrarnas kapacitet att utveckla ett tillräckligt bra föräldraskap. Stödet som erbjöds mödrarna präglades mer eller mindre av ett kontrollerande syfte. / The purpose of this study was to, based on the social workers perspective, examine social services’ work with mothers with intellectual disability in an early parenthood, and how the social workers perceive this work. To achieve the purpose of this study, we used a qualitative method. We performed individual interviews with five social workers who worked in social service in three different municipalities. The results from the interviews were analyzed by means of the two theoretical perspectives the discourse of normality and the discourse of the good will. The theoretical approach of this study can be described as social constructionism. It appeared two general forms of social services’ support to mothers with intellectual disability: support at home and support outside the home. The support offered to the mothers did not differ from the support that was available to all parents who needed support for parenthood. The social workers felt that the mothers' lack of understanding and their fear of social services caused difficulties at work. The work also experienced difficult from a lack of knowledge and adequate methods for working with mothers with intellectual disability. The results showed that the social workers perceived mothers with intellectual disability as deviant from normal parenting. Differences emerged on the mothers' capacity to develop a good enough parenting. The support offered to mothers was characterized more or less of a controlling purpose.

In the recent years, the number of nonprofit organizations in the Austin area has proliferated. At the same time, the state economic budget crisis has reduced public and private resources available to social service providers. In addition, potential clients face many barriers to accessing the services being provided. Research suggests that service coordination and collaboration between service providers may be one way to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the nonprofit sector and improve outcomes for clients. The four objectives of this report are: 1) to present an overview of issues facing the Austin social services field as a whole, 2) to conduct an exploratory scan of existing Austin networks including their goals, organizational histories, and challenges that they face in their collaborative efforts, 3) to synthesize findings from a variety of publications in a thorough discussion of the challenges and best practices for forming effective inter-organizational working groups, and 4) to identify what Austin networks can learn from the literature and derive recommendations for enhancing coordinated efforts between social service providers in the city of Austin. / text

Studien syftar till att belysa hur omvårdnadspersonal och enhetschefer på tre korttidsboenden arbetar med frågor som rör självbestämmande, meningsfullhet, trygghet, integritet, välbefinnande, värdigt liv samt hur de arbetar med att utveckla individernas egna resurser. Dessa begrepp anges i socialtjänstlagens verksamhetsmål och värdegrund i 5 kap. 4§ och 1 kap. 1§ (SFS 2001:453). För att besvara studiens syfte intervjuades tre enhetschefer och ett frågeformulär användes för att inhämta omvårdnadspersonalens perspektiv på implementeringen av verksamhetsmålen och värdegrunden. Empirin analyserades utifrån Self-determination theory och begreppet institutionalisering. Resultatet visar att enhetschefernas främsta metod för implementering av värdegrunden är att diskutera denna med omvårdnadspersonalen på arbetsplatsen. En stor andel av personalen känner dock inte till värdegrundens innehåll. De boendes möjligheter att utöva självbestämmande är begränsade och deras behov av integritet inskränks vid överbeläggningar då de får dela rum och toalettutrymme. Personer med demenssjukdom och de som vistas på korttidsboendet för växelvård blir exkluderade och har minskade möjligheter att få sina behov tillgodosedda. / The study aims to illustrate how caregivers and care managers on three short-term accommodations implement values concerning self-determination, meaningfulness, safeness, integrity, well-being, dignity and how they work to develop the individual's own resources. These values are stated in the Social Services Act in the objectives in section 1 §1, and in section 5 §4 (SFS 2001:453). To answer the aim of the study three care managers were interviewed and a questionnaire were used to obtain the caregivers perspective on the short-term accommodations. The empirical data were analyzed on the basis of Self-determination theory and institutionalization. Result shows that the care managers main method of implementation of the basic values are to discuss it with the caregivers in the workplace. A large proportion of the staff however, do not know the content of the basic values. The residents’ ability to exercise self-determination are limited and their integrity is curtailed when overcrowding when they share a room and lavatories. People with dementia and those who dwelt in the short-term accommodation for respite are being excluded thus, they have less opportunity to get their needs met.

This study sought to explain how crime victims emerged as a target group in the Swedish Social Services Act in 2001. The findings, derived from legislative documents, a literature review, and focus group interviews with social workers, showed that the 2001 provisions both duplicated and undermined pre-existing provisions of the Social Services Act. The explicit aim of the reform was to improve services to crime victims. The provisions did not, however, change the legal responsibility of the social services, nor did they strengthen the social rights of crime victims. The social services already assumed responsibility for crime victims according to other provisions of the act. To some degree, the reform can be explained symbolically. Support for crime victims was a complicated issue for the social democratic government. The economic crisis of the early 1990s ruled out reforms that might bring high increased costs. Yet expanding crime victims’ rights at the expense of the offender (e.g. toughening penal law and promoting victim impact statements) was not in line with social democratic ideology. By enacting the 2001 provisions, the government showed its commitment to providing support to crime victims. At the same time, the provisions did not increase costs or strengthen crime victims’ rights. In this way, the provisions solved a political dilemma for the government. Incorporating the 2001 provisions in the Social Services Act may seem to have been a modest reform. Symbolic politics, however, are not empty; rather, they reflect attitudes and beliefs. This study proposed that the reform revealed the state’s increasing concern with violence against women and individual responsibility. Furthermore, the provisions may have constituted a normative reorientation of the Social Services Act, in which individual responsibility increasingly replaced solidarity, the holistic view, and a right to assistance according to need.

The purpose of the investigation is to evaluate the level of the quality of social services for the elderly people. The thesis comprises the following parts: introduction, four chapters, conclusions, recommendations and annexes. The determination of social needs, concept of social services and their classification are analyzed in the first chapter, as well as the legal acts which regulate the provision of social services. The second chapter presents the analysis of a concept of elderly person, its participation in the public activities, as well as the ethical principles of the social work. The concept of the quality of social services and its evaluation is explained in the third chapter. The fourth chapter contains the analysis of the investigation on the quality of social services for elderly people. The following methods for investigation were used: the analysis of literature and legal acts, enquiry method, analysis of statistical data.

Lietuvoje ligonių slaugos ir globos politiką formuoja Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerija, bei Sveikatos apsaugos ministerija. Pagrindinė funkcija - socialinės politikos įgyvendinimo, paslaugas ligoniams teikia įstaigos, tiesiogiai pavaldžios miestų savivaldybėms. Slaugos ligoninė yra viena iš stacionarių globos įstaigų, kurios tikslas organizuoti ir teikti palaikomąjį gydymą senyvo amžiaus asmenims su negalia, sunkiai ar nepagydomomis progresuojančiomis ligomis sergantiems asmenims, saugoti ir ginti jų teises bei interesus, užtikrinti kvalifikuotą slaugą, fizinę ir psichologinę reabilitaciją, socialinę integraciją dėl sveikatos būklės laikinai ar visam gyvenimui praradusiems savarankiškumą. Pagrindiniai socialinių paslaugų teikėjai ilgalaikėje stacionarioje globos ir slaugos įstaigoje socialiniai darbuotojai, kurie ne tik teikia paslaugas, bet patys yra šių paslaugų organizatoriai bei koordinatoriai. Dirbant socialinį darbą yra aktualu žinoti ar šios paslaugos yra kokybiškos, ar pilnai jos tenkina pacientų poreikius. Darbo tiriamasis objektas – socialinių paslaugų organizavimo slaugos ligoninėje ypatumai. Darbo tikslas – išanalizuoti socialinių paslaugų organizavimo slaugos ligoninėje ypatumus. Uždaviniai: 1. Atskleisti palaikomojo gydymo ir slaugos įstaigų paskirtį šiuolaikinėje sveikatos ir socialinių paslaugų sistemose. 2. Aptarti palaikomojo gydymo ir slaugos ligoninėje teikiamų socialinių paslaugų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The policy of patients’ care and protection in Lithuania are formed by The Ministry of Social security and labor and The Ministry of health of the Republic of Lithuania. The main function – the implementation of social policy, the services for patients are given at the institutions that are under control of municipalities. The hospice is one of the stationary care institutions that purpose is to organize and give the supportive treatment for elderly disabled people, persons having heavy or incurable progressive diseases, to protect and defend their rights and interests, to assure the qualified care, physical and psychological rehabilitation, social integration for persons who temporary or for life have lost self-sufficiency because of state of health. The main givers of social services in the long-time stationary institution of protection and care are the social workers, who not only give the services, but themselves are the organizers and coordinators of these services. In the social work it is relevant to know are these services given qualitatively and do they completely meet the needs of patients. The investigative object of work – the peculiarities of organization of social services at the hospice. The purpose of work – to analyze the peculiarities of organization of social services at the hospice. Goals: 1. To display the destination of supportive treatment and care institutions in the modern systems of health and social services. ... [to full text]

Bakalauro baigiamajame darbe analizuojamas NVO ir savivaldybių bendradarbiavimas teikiant socialines paslaugas: Šiaulių miesto savivaldybės atvejis. Konceptualiojoje darbo dalyje nagrinėjami NVO ir savivaldybių bendradarbiavimo teikiant socialines paslaugas teoriniai aspektai: analizuojama socialinių paslaugų teikimo sistema Lietuvoje bei jos reglamentavimas, išsiaiškinamos socialinių paslaugų ir NVO sampratos, nagrinėjamas NVO vaidmuo socialinių paslaugų teikimo sistemoje, jų rūšys ir teikiamos socialinės paslaugos bei analizuojami NVO ir savivaldybių bendradarbiavimo teikiant socialines paslaugas galimi modeliai ir būdai. Tiriamojoje darbo dalyje atliekama teisinių dokumentų, reglamentuojančių NVO ir Šiaulių miesto savivaldybės bendradarbiavimą, analizė ir pusiau struktūrizuotas interviu, kuriame apklausiami Šiaulių miesto savivaldybės ir NVO, susijusių su socialinių paslaugų teikimu, atstovai. Buvo išsiaiškintas teisinės bazės tinkamumas plėtoti jų tarpusiavio bendradarbiavimą, NVO teikiamų socialinių paslaugų kokybė ir jų finansavimo galimybės, bendradarbiavimą ribojantys veiksniai ir tobulintinos kryptys. Darbo pabaigoje, remiantis teorine analize ir atlikto tyrimo rezultatais, pateikiamos išvados ir rekomendacijos. Darbo įvade iškelta hipotezė, jog „Šiaulių miesto savivaldybėje teikiant socialines paslaugas vyksta bendradarbiavimas su NVO, tačiau jis yra ribojamas dėl nuolatinės skiriamo finansavimo stokos, savivaldybės darbuotojų kompetencijos trūkumo ir tarpusavio... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This bachelor thesis analyzes NGOs and municipalities cooperation providing social services: the case of Siauliai city municipality. The conceptual part of this thesis examines theoretical aspects of cooperation between NGOs and municipalities, providing public services. This part analyzes social services provision system and its regulation, clarifies the concept of social services and NGOs. Also discloses the role of NGOs in social services provision, NGOs types and social services provided. Finally the possible models and techniques in NGOs and municipalities cooperation is analyzed. Practical part of the paper analyzes legal instructions that regulates cooperation of NGOs and municipalities and carried out semi-structured interviews of representatives of NGOs and municipality of Siauliai city who are related to social services provision. In this way were clarified legal framework suitability in cooperation development, cooperation evaluation, factors that are limiting cooperation and directions of development. In the end of paper according to the results of theoretical analysis and empirical researches, were constructed conclusions and presented recommendations. Hypothesis raised in the introduction of this paper, that: „Then providing social services in the Siauliai city municipality there is cooperation with NGOs, but it is limited by permanent lack of funding, the municipality stuff incompetence and miscommunication.” was clarified.

Darbo tikslas yra išanalizuoti ir įvertinti savivaldos institucijų teikiamų socialinių paslaugų šeimai efektyvumą ir kokybę, išryškinti socialinių paslaugų teikimo problemas praktiniu aspektu ir pateikti siūlymus šioms problemoms spręsti. Darbe keliama hipotezė, jog savivaldos institucijos neužtikrina aukšto teikiamų socialinių paslaugų šeimai kokybės ir efektyvumo lygio dėl nepakankamo socialinių paslaugų prieinamumo ir individualizavimo bei orientacijos į finansinę paramą, per mažai dėmesio skiriant alternatyvių paslaugų teikimui. Atlikus Lietuvos teisės aktų socialinių paslaugų srityje analizę ir išsiaiškinus bei įvertinus socialinės paramos šeimai sistemą Vilniaus ir Kauno miestų savivaldybėse, iškelta hipotezė pasitvirtino tik nevienodu mastu. Vertinant socialinių paslaugų sistemą nustatyta, kad Lietuvoje sukurtas nemažas socialinių paslaugų tinklas, tačiau kol kas šio tinklo aprėptumas, paslaugų įvairovė bei kokybė nėra pakankami. Socialinės apsaugos išlaidų struktūroje didelė dalis tenka piniginėms išmokos ir per maža socialinėms paslaugoms, konsultacijoms, užimtumo skatinimo priemonėms. Nėra pakankamas socialinių paslaugų individualizavimas, pastebimas socialinių darbuotojų trūkumas. Šiose srityse labiausiai pasigendama atitikimo teisės aktų keliamiems reikalavimams lygio augimo. / The aim of the work is to analyze and assess the effectiveness and quality of social services provided for families by local authorities, to demonstrate the practical aspect of problems of the provision of social services and to give suggestions concerning solutions to these problems. The work formulates a hypothesis that local authorities do not ensure high quality and effectiveness of social services provided for families due to limited availability and individualization of social services as well as orientation towards financial support, and due to insufficient attention to the provision of alternative services. The analysis of Lithuania’s legislation in the field of social services and the examination as well as evaluation of the system of social assistance for families in Vilnius and Kaunas City Municipalities have proved the hypothesis made, just to a differing extent. The assessment of the system of social services has shown that Lithuania has quite a large network of social services, however, the coverage of the network, and a variety and quality of services are not yet sufficient. Cash benefits make up a considerable portion of social security costs, whereas social services, consultations and measures promoting employment take up a too small portion. Individualization of social services is not adequate and a shortage of social workers can be observed. These fields mostly lack growth in the level of fulfilment of requirements set by legislation.