Relationen mellan familjehem & biologiska föräldrar
En (o)komplicerad relation? Synen på familjehemmens kontakt med barnets biologiska föräldrar, samt det stöd som ges från familjehemssekreterare i denna kontakt.
Social workFoster parentsSocial workerFoster childBiological parentsRelationshipSupportStreet-level bureaucracySocialt arbeteFamiljehemsföräldrarFamiljehemssekreterareBarnBiologiska föräldrarRelationStödGräsrotsbyråkrati
With this research we aim to examine foster parents and social workers perceptions about the relationship between foster parents and the foster child?s biological parents and their perceptions about the support to the foster parents in the contact with the child?s biological parents. The research will provide a deeper understanding of the actors? perceptions and explain possible differences in their opinions. This study has a qualitative approach and contains eight semi-structured interviews with foster parents and social workers in a smaller town in the south of Sweden. Seven foster parents from four foster homes and four social workers were interviewed. As analytical method we have used a qualitative thematic analysis and then the results have been analyzed by the theoretical approach of street-level bureaucracy and its discretion. Theories regarding the relationship between clients and social workers have also been used. The result demonstrates that social workers perceptions of the relationship between foster parents and the foster child?s biological parents are that the relationship should be remained because the interaction between them is necessary for the child. Concerning possible conflicts that may appear, between foster parents and the child?s biological parents, social workers see as solvable. Foster parents on the other hand emphasize the difficulties in their relationship with the foster child?s biological parents. They also think that they have no exchange of having contact with the child?s biological parents but say that they still have it for the child?s sake. Regarding the support provided to the foster parents in their relationship with the child?s biological parents, the foster parents states that they need a close relationship to the social worker to feel supported. However they argue that a frequent change of social workers prevents them from being able to have a close relationship with their social worker. Social workers say that the support to the foster parents is limited by time constraints and high workload. Instead they underline the importance of providing training as a part of the support to the foster parents in their relationship with the child?s biological parents.