Normalisering av hot och våld i socialtjänsten : En kvalitativ studie om hot och våld samt hur det kan normaliseras i socialtjänstens barn- och ungdomsavdelning

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how threats and violence can be normalized in the children’s departments within the social services, through a qualitative study. We spoke to six social workers in a series of semi-structured interviews. We analyzed the material that we gathered through previous studies together with Eva Lundgren’s theory of the Process of Normalization. Conclusions that can be drawn from our research are that social workers experience a much larger deal of threats, rather than actual physical violence. The extent of threats targeted at social workers has led to a normalization, and to a culture of where these threats are accepted as a part of the work environment. Threatening situations mainly occur in direct correlation to immediate care of children. In order to cope with threats and violence, a collegial spirit and environment is essential, in combination with correspondence to the head of the administration. Social workers tend to normalize threats by finding other explanations to why the client acted in a certain manner, or by blaming themselves for the situation. There is no clear or given definition of what threats are in the workplace, but it is rather a personal definition, where social workers themselves categorize whether they acknowledge something as a threat or not. The normalization of threats on the other hand can be used as a coping mechanism, to protect oneself from the setbacks and negative effects that threats and violence can entail.