Barnperspektiv inom socialtjänsten : En kvalitativ undersökning av socialsekreterares hantering av barnets bästa

Sammanfattning:   The aim of this study was to examine how social workers perceive and interpret the term “barnets bästa” (“The best for the child”), within the framework of investigatory work and enforcement of Swedish law, which is carried out by the Social Services. We wanted to investigate if the interpretation of the term had any causal effects on the work carried out by social workers.   Seven social workers from two municipalities participated in this study in which we used qualitative semi-structured interviews based around two vignettes. We focused on age, experience, legislation, and external circumstances to gain insight into how these factors alter social workers’ perception of the term “barnets bästa”.   Our theoretical approach was based on two theories on social constructivism.     The results of our study show that social workers have difficulties in pinpointing the term “barnets bästa”, and their subjective interpretation of the term differs between interviewees. There was a tendency for social workers to focus more on parents rather than the children and, within the vignettes tested, they tended to be more motivated to create a relationship with the female child.   The primary finding in the study is that the complexity of the term “barnets bästa” is situational, and will thereby muddle any general conclusions concerning the child’s perspective. Another finding we have drawn from the study is the importance for the social workers to learn and develop in collegial and social contexts.