Hur utvecklas socialtjänsten? : en kvantitativ studie om socialsekreterares upplevelse av arbetssätt, utveckling och delaktighet inom socialtjänsten

Sammanfattning:  The aim of this study was to investigate through a survey study social workers' experiences of their working methods and development within the social services. The study also examined the level of involvement social secretaries experience in the development of their workplace and whether this had an impact on their view of organizational changes. The interest in social workers’ attitude towards their working methods and the development of the organization was based on the authors' own experiences during Work-Based Education (VFU), a mandatory component of the bachelor's degree program in social work. During the VFU, the authors experienced some working methods as old-fashioned and that the interest in developing and changing those working methods did not seem to be a priority to staff. The authors also wondered if social secretaries experienced their role in the development of the organization as important and how involved they felt in making decisions that influence the workplace and the way they work. And if not, does that have an impact on their attitude toward the development of the organization. Further the authors experienced an inertia when it came to organizational change and wondered where it came from. The results showed that the majority of social secretaries are satisfied with the working methods and that organizational development is part of their work. At the same time, the results of the study showed that social workers want decisions to be made based on knowledge within the profession, the needs of clients, and evidence-based practices, but in reality, decisions are made by management staff and politicians, which prevented social workers from influencing the decisions. The majority of social secretaries were positive to organizational development, and those who perceived their opinion as important to the development process had an even more positive attitude towards organizational change and development.