”Jag undrade om det hade med tolkandet att göra, Att det kunde bli en sådan missuppfattning” : En kvalitativ intervjustudie om upplevelsen av att använda teckenspråkstolk i möte med dövaklienter hos handläggare inom socialtjänsten

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to explore how social workers describe their experiences with using sign language interpreters in meetings with deaf or hard of hearing clients, and which procedures they follow in booking and using sign language interpreters. The study also examines if prior knowledge of and insight about deaf people and sign language affect the meeting, and if so, in what way. Data was collected by interviewing five case managers in two Swedish municipalities. The data was analysed by using the theoretical framework of intercultural communication, intercultural competence and language discordance. The results of the study suggest that prior knowledge and understanding could be helpful for the case managers in the meeting with a deaf client. The results also show that the case managers have different understandings of their organizations' procedures regarding booking and usage of interpreters, and some of them find the lack of available procedures to be problematic. Some of the case managers describe the use of interpreters in terms of  justice and a means to ensure the client's civil rights.