Legitimerad och stolt : En kvalitativ studie om hälso- och sjukvårdskuratorers resonemang kring införandet av en legitimation

Sammanfattning: Title: Certified and proud - A qualitative study of hospital social workers views on their establishment as a certified profession Supervisor: Mikael Sandgren The question of professional certification of hospital social workers in Sweden was first brought to attention by Akademikerförbundet SSR in 1958. More than 60 years later, on July 1st, 2019 the decision to make “hospital social worker” a certified profession was ratified by the Swedish government. The effects of this change have not yet been studied. This study aimed to assess how this implemen-tation of certification has affected the way hospital social workers view their professional role compared to other healthcare professionals and how it affects their relationship to both patients and colleagues. Eight qualitative semi-structured interviews were performed among active hospital social workers from different geographical and professional areas. Analysis was performed using Er-ving Goffman's dramaturgical perspective. Further analysis used Thomas Brante's definition of profession and Kerstin Svenssons and Lennart G. Svenssons definition of welfare-profession. Although the interviews indicated no changes in the actual work performed, a substantial impact was observed in other aspects. The certification was perceived to increase the credibility of hospital social wor-kers in relation to other healthcare-professions and to be a marker of quality. In-terviewees highlighted a perceived increase in the importance of the psychosoci-al perspective. An increase in patient-safety was expected as a consequence of the certification requirements. Finally, interviewees reported a feeling of pride related to the profession becoming certified. In conclusion the new certification of the profession was seen as positive by hospital social workers in this study, although the actual effects remain to be seen since the process of implementing the new certification is still undergoing.