Barnets behov och vårdnadshavarnas förmåga

Sammanfattning: This investigation is a response to the lack of research concerning the use of language in social service reports. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the role of language in childcare investigations. This is a qualitative study that looks at four Childcare investigation reports, recorded in the city of Malmö, with the purpose of examining the role of language in the investigation process. Furthermore, the study investigates what demands are placed on parents based on Bordieau´s notion of capital. This study also looks at how the language used in these reports can either be interpreted as accessible or inaccessible. According to the results, the language used in the investigations is characterized by difficult words and native concepts which places a certain requirement on the families involved to comprehend an academic language. Furthermore, the fact that the language in these reports is framed by an establishment separate from those affected by the investigation should be considered as a limitation to the families involved. It is of importance to consider how a Childcare investigation can often invoke emotional responses in those involved, as well as how the investigation process can mean personal exposure for the families in question. Consequently, for the social worker, this might entail a very complex work situation with tasks that can include high demands and difficulties fulfilling expectations. Another point to consider is that the investigator and the family are part of the investigation process under very different conditions, where one is there to assess whereas the other is the one being assessed. Therefore, it is of outmost importance to reflect on how their positions may vary based on their social class.