"Respektera klienten och tro på det den säger" : En studie om socialarbetarens bemötande av klienter som blivit utsatta för våld i nära relation

Sammanfattning: Title: ”Respect the client and believe what is said” – A study of social worker’s treatment of clients who have been exposed to domestic violence. Authors: Rebecka Broman Pettersson & Emelie Hammarström. The purpose of this study has been to evaluate how social workers, both with and without expertise regarding clients who have been exposed to domestic violence, work in an aspect of client-treatment towards these clients. We have investigated the social workers knowledge about domestic violence and their investigation methods regarding these clients. The study has been implemented through four semi-structured interviews with social workers operating in different municipalities. The collected data has been processed through a hermeneutical approach and analyzed based on empowerment theory and theoretical concepts of violence and encounters. A result show that the client-treatment vary depending on the situation and that there are no clear guidelines or action plans regarding how the social workers should act. Also that the investigation methods very depending on where the social worker work and on the clients situation. The study also highlights the importance of expertise in the work regarding the client group and social workers awareness of violence and exposure to violence. There is a great need for expertise in social work in order to meet and work with clients who are victims of domestic violence. There is a lack of knowledge about this phenomenon that can lead to that the client is not receiving the necessary assistance, because the social worker did not know how to respond to the client.