"Det är vårt ansvar att göra dem delaktiga, det är för dem vi gör det" : En kvalitativ studie om hur socialsekreterare tillgodoser barns rätt till delaktighet i utredningsprocessen

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study is to examine how investigative social workers in the children´s department within the social services succeed to provide children´s rignt to participate and to put this in context with what previous research say about the child´s perspective. We used a qualitative method and preformed semi-structured interviews with seven social workers. To analyze the material we used previous research along with Aaron Antonovsky´s theory of KASAM and Micheal Lipsky´s theory of street-level bureaucracy with the concept of discretion. Conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that the definition of children´s participation is complex but mainly about them getting the opportunity to express themself about thair thoughts and feelings and that social workers take that in concern. It is also about the child being given information about and understanding the investigationprocess but also that their participation are optional. To promote children´s participation mainly are to talk to them, adjusted to the individual child´s level with their age and maturity taking into account. Methods and tools are described as many but they are all about improve communication between the child and the social worker, to be able to identify the child´s concerns and providing good conditions for the child to understand. It is also about them being able to express themselves about their situation and have the possibility to influence the decisions. Difficulties and limitations can lead to consequences for the child and are mainly about the influence of parents and the orgaization. When parents work against the social workers an they does not want to cooperate is one example that can lead to the child not being given the opportunity to express themselves. The organization may limit if there is a lack of time an resources, which can result in not enough converation with the child as necesary to build a relationship and also prevent skills development that can improve the quality of conversations with children. This can lead to the child not getting the support they need.