”Mitt jobb är att hitta lösningar”: Resursskolepersonals upplevelser och bemötande av konflikter och problemskapande beteende

Sammanfattning: Managing conflicts and challenging behaviors among pupils is a significant part of everyday work for school staff. This study broadens the comprehension of the experiences the school staff had from approaching these situations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six employees at resource schools on how they experienced the strategies they used, if the strategies seemed effective and what the staff were in need of to be able to approach their pupils in a constructive way. The result was analyzed through a phenomenological approach and the conclusions indicated that conflicts and challenging behaviors often were preceded by the staff making demands on the pupil. Therefore, the staff had many strategies on how to make demands in ways they experienced being constructive. A complexity was revealed stating whether to keep one’s approach consistent or flexible, and what the consequences of these stands might be. Other strategies aimed at making individual adjustments and also at motivating the pupils to change maladaptive behaviors. The strategies were adapted to the assessed stage of the conflict. Facilitating positive relationships between staff and pupils was considered essential for the pupils’ academic development, as well as creating conditions for changing behaviors. Acting professionally in challenging situations was emphasized, as well as a supportive collegial cooperation. The conclusions point at the importance of evaluating the strategies that are practiced by applying theory and previous research, but also by looking at the consequences they might have on the relationship between the pupils and staff.