Uppfostran som i vilken familj som helst...

Sammanfattning: Abstract Author: Frida Bengtsson Title: Just an ordinary upbringing… A study of the work on institutions for children and young people. Supervisor: Claes Levin Every year social secretaries making decisions about placing children and youths in different kinds of institutions, although research shows that it rarely has any positive effect on the youths. The purpose of this study was to examine how employees at these institutions are working with the problems causing the placement? My thesis questions were: What do the employees think of reasons causing the placement? What do the employees do when they work? Do the employees base their work on any theories or treatment methods? In what situations do conflicts arise, how do they deal with them and what consequences does that get? To obtain answers to my questions I have been interviewing employees from five different institutions for children and youth. In order to analyse my empirical material I have been using research about institutions, tacit knowledge and the theoretical term placement breakdown. The thesis shows that several of the examined institutions did not base their work on a common theoretical ground. However, they used a reward system to reinforce positive behaviour and also as a negative consequence at unwanted actions. It turned out that a great part of the work was about raising the children based on the way parents raise their kids. Conflicts occur when the employees put demands on the youth and sets limits. These conflicts sometimes escalate and become violent. Violence and escaping are the two main reasons to premature termination. It is therefore important that the employees are trying to understand why young people act the way they do and learn to manage conflict in ways that reduce the risk that violence will occur.