Har vi kompetensen som krävs? En kvantitativ studie om socionomers utbildning och kompetens för att förebygga ungdomsbrottslighet

Sammanfattning: The ongoing debate on the reform of Swedish social work education, proposing juvenile delinquency as a mandatory course, raises concerns about the adequacy of current education and competence among professional social workers in effectively addressing this specific form of criminality. The contemporary debate, involving academics and policymakers, overlooks the perspectives and experiences of practicing social workers, creating a knowledge gap in understanding the practical challenges associated with youth crime intervention. This study aims to map and investigate the competence of professional social workers in Sweden and their educational needs in preventive work against youth crime. Employing a quantitative method and survey, we have analyzed the prevalence of educational levels, educational needs, and the perceived significance of social workers' education in the context of preventive efforts against juvenile delinquency. Additionally, we have explored potential correlations between the level of competence, professional experience, and the utilization of preventive interventions, as well as the preparedness to address risk behaviors that may lead to youth delinquency. The study identified a link between social workers' competence and the utilization of preventive interventions, with longer professional experience correlating to increased intervention use. However, no significant correlation was found between additional education and intervention utilization. Additionally, there was an indication of a relationship between competence and preparedness to address risk behaviors, where higher educational levels and more professional experience were associated with increased preparedness. While the study contributes by examining professionals' perspectives on competence and education, its findings are specific to the studied group and not generalizable. Despite certain observed patterns, the study highlights limitations and underscores the necessity for further research with more extensive and representative samples.