Ny professionsroll med gamla traditioner och moderna perspektiv

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to examine what experience supportstaff have about the work with ensuring supportusers self-determination and participation. The purpose is broken down into two main questions, firstly how supportstaff work with self-determination and participation. Secondly what kind of experience the supportstaff have about opportunities and difficulties in the work with ensuring self-determination and participation. We used a qualitative method and gathered data by using ​thematically open issues ​interviews. We interviewed seven supportstaff in different parts of Sweden. We used two different theoretical approaches, empowerment and Michael Lipsky’s theory about street-level bureaucracy. All informants experienced both difficulties and opportunities in the work to ensure the supportusers self-determination and participation. The informants described how the difficulties can consist of both organizational structures but also in the staff's own approach towards the supportusers. Different working methods, competence and also relationships that are based on trust emerged from the result as opportunities for ensuring the supportusers self-determination and participation. The results of this study is in alignment with previous research, but the study includes new elements for future research.