Malin Åkerström

Röster från socialtjänsten

Voices from Social Service Staff in a Collaboration Project concerning Juvenile Care in Sweden

Summary, in English

The aim of this study is to analyze how the Social Services personnel interpret, define and perceive, on the one hand, the project “Motverka Våld och Gäng” meaning “Counteract Violence and Gangs”, and on the other hand the role of the Coordinators employed in this project. Heads of units and Social Secretarys were interviewed, as well as observed and recorded at meetings.



The personnel of the Social Service often state that the project came “from above”, from the state, and they construct the project as pointing out the Social Service as incompetent of handling juvenile care.



Both appreciative as well as criticizing voices were heard about the Coordinators and their role. The criticism deals with the Coordinator portrayed as a controller and competitor when representing the young ones. Positive comments deal with the mediating role of the Coordinator, in contacts with the young one and the parents, as well as their administrative contributions.