Mellantvång, reglerat eller oreglerat? : En kvalitativ studie om socialsekreterares resonemang kring mellantvång

Sammanfattning: This research will explore how social workers in the Swedish childcare system argue about semi coercive measures, tensions between voluntariness and coercion, and their discretion for those actions. Semi coercive measures are regulated by The Care of Young Persons Act (LVU), section 22. To investigate this a qualitative method was adopted. Eight semi- structured interviews were conducted with social workers that have experience when it comes to work within social services regarding children and young people. The research utilises a thematic analysis as a means of processing the data. To analyse the results, Lipsky’s theoretical concept; Street-level bureaucracy and Foucault’s theoretical concept of power; discipline and disciplining based on panopticism and pastoral power, are used. The analysis of the results indicates that the respondent’s views of the tension between coercive and voluntary measures differ, and that there is no clear distinction. Most of the respondents considered the regulations on semi coercive measures as unnecessary while others thought they are a useful tool when implemented correctly. Moreover, social workers use similar forms of semi coercive measures but not according to section 22 LVU. Respondents use their discretion in different ways, which influences their views on whether the section is necessary or not.