"Man vänjer sig vid att torka blod" : En kvalitativ studie om det professionella arbetet med självskadebeteenden på HVB-verksamheter för ensamkommande flyktingbarn

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to examine the work with self-harm within residential care homes for unaccompanied refugees. Furthermore, we wanted to determine how professionals look upon their own competence and the residential care’s ability concerning self-harm. In addition to this we wanted to distinguish different professional approaches within the work. Through semi-structured interviews, we spoke to six professionals who work with unaccompanied refugees at residential care homes in southern Sweden. The analysis was based on three different perspectives: professional approach, discretion and normality. Our result showed that most of the professionals considered themselves, and their colleagues, having the competence needed to help the youths who is deliberately self-harming. Regarding the ability of the residential care homes, a few different issues were identified as contributing factors; course of action and strategies, resources, and communication. It turned out that all the professionals we spoke to had difficulties with at least one of these matters at their workplace. Moreover, we used Holm’s (2001, 2009) notions of empathy, self-awareness and self-discipline to identify different professional approaches within the work with youths who deliberately harm themselves. We found it difficult to tell whether one residential care home had a more professional approach than another due to the numerous factors that contribute to the evaluation of the professionals’ competence and the ability of the residential care home. Nevertheless, our discussions about the work with self-harm could give an indication about the professionality at residential care homes for unaccompanied refugees.