Barnperspektiv
En kvalitativ studie om hur handläggare i två kommuner beaktar barnperspektivet inom ekonomiskt bistånd
Social assistanceChild perspectiveSocial workerVariationMunicipalityEkonomiskt biståndBarnperspektivHandläggareVariationKommun
The purpose of this study was to examine social workers working process in social assistance with focus on the child´s perspective. We were interested in learning about the existence of variations in approach and attitude between two municipalities. Question to be answered about what methods and approaches used by social workers to include the child´s perspective in the process of social assistance. Another question to be answered about what the manner in which social workers took into account the child´s perspective when the families apply for social assistance in relation to the operations and requirement. To fulfill the purpose, qualitative methods were used. Interviews were conducted with six social workers, three social workers in each municipality. The results of the interviews were analyses based on research and knowledge reviews and based on theory of street level bureaucracy.The study´s results show variations between the two municipalities in the social workers account of the child´s perspective in social assistance. The results also show that there was no established method or model in municipalities that made it clear to examiners how the child´s perspective should be taken into account in work with families. Instead the social workers of laws, policies, local conditions and the officers´ own discretion assumed how to best take in to account the child´s perspective in the work. When families applied for social assistance, social workers always tried to consider the child´s perspective. Families with children had the opportunity to be granted extra efforts that benefited children and the requirements were not as strict for families with children, as for other individuals without children who applied for social assistance.