| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Gunvor
(author)
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Family relations, adjustment and wellbeing in a longitudinal study of children in care
- 2005
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500. ; 10:1, s. 43-56
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The article reports on a longitudinal study of children placed in a children's home during the first two years of the 1980s. The 26 children placed when younger than 4 years of age and staying more than 4 weeks were followed up 3 and 9 months after leaving the children's home and 5, 10, 15 and 20 years later. The children's family relations, including early attachments and later parental relationships and the perception of who is their family, have been one of the predominant themes in the recurrent studies. None of them had lived with both parents after leaving the children's home and 20 of them had been in foster care for periods or permanently. At the time of the last study the children were young adults, aged 20–25. They are categorized in three rather distinct categories, one for those with a 'good' and one for those with a 'moderate' social adjustment and well-being and one for those with a 'bad' social adjustment and well-being insofar as involvement with drugs, criminal behaviour and legal sanctions are concerned. Their contacts and relationships with birth parents and foster parents and the perception of who is their family are analysed by use of attachment theory and developmental psychopathology.
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| 3. |
- Cater [Källström Cater], Åsa, 1971-, et al.
(author)
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Descriptions of fathers’ care by children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) : relative neglect and children’s needs
- 2014
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 19:2, s. 185-193
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The situation of children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) raises certain issues related to child neglect. Little is known about how children exposed to IPV perceive and describe their living conditions. This paper addresses this lack by analysing aspects of fathers’ care in descriptions given by children whose fathers have subjected the mothers to IPV. The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with 10 children aged 8–12 years. Three themes constitute the results. First, the fathers are not described by the children as engaged and responsible care providers. Second, in their general descriptions of how mothers and fathers fill complementary roles for the child, parenthood seems to mean in practice that the mother is the provider of (almost) everything the child may need. Third, the mere absence of violence seems to be judged ‘good-enough’ fathering in the children’s descriptions. Altogether, this leads to the conclusion that being exposed to IPV and believing that mothers are responsible for their welfare precludes children from viewing their fathers as responsible for their well-being. The limited utility for child welfare practice of a ‘child-based’ definition of neglect in cases of IPV is discussed, and alternatives are suggested.
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| 4. |
- Egelund, Tine, et al.
(author)
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Prevalence of mental health problems among children placed in out of home care in Denmark
- 2009
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 14:2, s. 156-165
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper concerns the prevalence of mental health problems among children in family foster and residential care within a Danish context. All children, born in Denmark in 1995, who are or formerly have been placed in out-of-home care (n= 1072), are compared with a group of vulnerable children of the same age, subjected to child protection interventions but living at home (n= 1457, referred to as the ‘in home care children’), and to all contemporaries who are not child protection clients (n= 71 321, referred to as the ‘non-welfare children’). Prevalence data are established on the basis of national administrative register data, including data on psychiatric diagnoses of the children, and on survey data scoring children in out-of-home care, in home care children, and non-welfare children by means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results show that 20% of children in out-of-home care have at least one psychiatric diagnosis compared to 3% of the non-welfare children. Almost half of the children in care (48%) are, furthermore, scored within the abnormal range of SDQ, compared to 5% of the non-welfare children.
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| 5. |
- Glad, Johan, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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Social work practitioners' experience of the clinical utility of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory
- 2012
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 17:1, s. 23-33
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Clinical utility of an assessment instrument can provide importantinformation about the potential value of that instrument when used inpractice. The aim of this study was to describe social work practitioners’experiences of the clinical utility of a Swedish version of theHome Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME)Inventory. Because knowledge of clinical utility in this area is scarce,a qualitative method based on semi-structured interviews was used togain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. Data were collectedthrough 16 interviews and then analysed by qualitative manifestcontent analysis.The analysis yielded five categories: improves qualityof child protection investigations, supports practitioners, HOME hasdrawbacks and difficulties, certain issues are important for futureapplications and basic conditions are crucial. The findings supportedthe clinical utility of the HOME Inventory though some critical issueshave to be addressed, especially concerning the category basic conditionsare crucial. A thorough education, the possibility to practiceactivities related to the administration of the method and supportfrom management were found to be essential. Replication and furtherstudies are needed in the Swedish context to confirm the applicabilityof the HOME Inventory.
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| 6. |
- Hedin, Lena, 1951-
(author)
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A sense of belonging in a changeable everyday life : a follow-up study of young people in kinship, network, and traditional foster families
- 2014
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 19:2, s. 165-173
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This in-depth follow-up study of 15 foster youth shows the importance of an ‘open foster family’, open to letting the foster youth into the family life and to cooperating with the adolescent's birth family. Previous findings about the importance of negotiations, mutual rituals, and having fun together in foster families for the creation of social bonds and belonging are strengthened in the follow-up interview. A lack of these mutual practices is observed prior to disruptions. Most adolescents still living with the same foster family feel a sense of belonging to both their foster and birth families, especially when both families cooperate. This is most evident in kinship families. Over time, adolescents in traditional foster families have also strengthened their social bonds to the foster family, which makes the difference to youth in network foster families less pronounced than in the previous study. Despite life changes, above all changing schools and peers, most adolescents reveal personal agency by still coping with their situation. However, therapeutic support is now more common than 1 year ago, for girls in particular. Methods used are interviews, network maps and text responses (‘beepers’).
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| 7. |
- Hedin, Lena, et al.
(author)
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Why one goes to school : what school means to young people entering foster care
- 2011
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 16:1, s. 43-51
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this interpretative childhood study of 17 boys and girls 13 – 16 years old placed in foster families, the experiences and attitudes towards school are explored. The importance of school as an arena for both learning and socialization is emphasized. Data were collected through interviews, network maps, and text answers via mobile phone (‘beepers’). Their educational improvement was based on their understanding of scholastic achievement as meaningful for their future, stability in daily routines, and the involvement and support of family, peers, and teachers. Access to peers at school is important, and group activities facilitate this. Because of their background, foster youth can also be exposed to bullying from peers. Both learning and socialization at school affect their self-esteem.
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| 8. |
- Hultman, Elin, et al.
(author)
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Vulnerable children's health as described in investigations of reported children
- 2013
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 18:2, s. 117-128
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explores whether the social services weigh in health aspects, and what these may be, when investigating reported childrens life situation. Information about physical and psychological health aspects for 259 children in 272 investigations was included. Overall, information about childrens health was limited. Problematic emotions were the most commonly reported health aspect in the investigations, whereas suicidal thoughts, self-harm behaviour and gastrointestinal and renal diseases were mentioned least of all. A cluster analysis revealed that the low level of health information group included the largest sample of data and consisted of investigations with minimal information about childrens health. The three other cluster groups, Neurological diseases and psychosomatic symptoms, Emotional health and Physical and psychological health and destructive behaviour, consisted of investigations conducted mostly according to the model called Childrens Needs In Focus (BBIC, in Swedish, Barns Behov i Centrum). Although these investigations also produced limited information, they provided more than those assessed as having a low level of information about health aspects. The conclusion is that it is necessary to increase information about health aspects in investigations if social welfare systems are to be able to fulfil their ambition of supporting vulnerable childrens need of health care.
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| 9. |
- Hydén, Margareta, et al.
(author)
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Applying Narrative Analysis to the Process of Confirming or Disregarding Cases of Suspected Sexual Abuse
- 2005
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In: Child & Family Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 10:1, s. 57-65
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article analyses discourse about sexual abuse at a detention home for young women. At the centre of attention is staff members' struggle with the process of confirming or disregarding cases of alleged sexual abuse. The determining factor for establishing an act as sexual abuse was whether or not the act involved a person who was defined as a victim. A core issue in the process was an evaluation of the credibility of the alleged abused girl and the degree of consent. The unintended result was that many of the girls' narratives were never confirmed. The article argues that there is no objective 'given' regarding the definition of sexual abuse. To be involved in the process of understanding and establishing an act as sexual abuse means being involved in a process of social definition. To be able to handle such involvement constitutes a fundamental professional issue in social work. Adopting a narrative approach to the process of confirming or disregarding cases of suspected sexual abuse shifts the focus from developing categories of social problems and work on the basis of them to developing ways of listening to young people and allowing their narratives to provide a point of departure.
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| 10. |
- Höjer, Ingrid, 1953, et al.
(author)
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Young people leaving care in Sweden
- 2010
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 15:1, s. 118-127
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The transition from a placement in care to an independent life can be a problematic phase for young people. In Sweden, special care-leaving services are almost non-existent. What then happens to young people when they leave a placement in out-of-home care? This paper draws on the results of a study in which 16 young care leavers between the ages of 18 and 22 years were interviewed. Telephone interviews were also performed with the young care leavers' parents, social workers, foster carers and institutional staff. The aim of the study was to investigate how young care leavers perceive the transition from care to an independent life. The Swedish welfare model, the prolonged transition to adulthood and the family-oriented welfare discourse have been used as analytical perspectives. The results show that young care leavers have a pronounced need for social, emotional, practical and financial support. Whilst such support is occasionally provided by foster carers and residential staff, it is seldom given by social services or biological parents. This group is at risk of facing severe problems in the transitional phase from care to independent life, a fact that is not acknowledged by the Swedish welfare system.
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| 11. |
- Keselman, Olga, et al.
(author)
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Asylum seeking minors in interpreter-mediated interviews : what do theysay and what happens to their responses?
- 2010
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 15:3, s. 325-334
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explored how asylum-seeking minors report information when formally interviewed. Twenty-six Russian-speaking minors (M= 16.0 years of age) were individually interviewed by officials assisted by one of eighteen interpreters. A quantitative analysis examined the translated questions asked by the officials, the minors’ responses to them, and the accuracy with which the minors’ responses were rendered. The asylum-seeking minors distinguished themselves as active participants. They appeared eager to disclose relevant information despite being asked many potentially contaminating questions. Most of the children’s responses were accurately rendered but mistranslations can affect the fact–finding process substantially. Both the minors and the officials involved in the asylum-seeking process need to recognise that both the questions asked and the responses given may be influenced by the third parties involved, i.e. the interpreters.
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| 12. |
- Adolfsson, Päivi, 1956-, et al.
(author)
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Mothers with cognitive limitations who have children in placement benefit from intervention
- 2021
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 26:1, s. 79-88
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mothers with cognitive limitations who have children in placement need to be listened to and to receive help in understanding and dealing with their situation. A support programme for this group was developed in Australia and then adapted for use in a Swedish context and named 'Mamma Trots Allt' (MTA). The aim was to examine the experiences of these mothers regarding their mothering role after participation in MTA. An explorative and qualitative design was used. Inclusion criteria were mothers with cognitive limitations, a child in placement and participation in MTA. Nine mothers, eight of them from a previous study, gave their informed consent to participate. A study-specific interview guide was adapted to people with cognitive limitations. The interviews took place after the final MTA session. The qualitative analyses resulted in a description of the mothers' experiences and how they changed after MTA, resulting in an overall theme, two subthemes, four categories and 11 subcategories. MTA facilitated the mothers' maturation and broadened their earlier, stereotypic life expectations. Offering a support programme benefits not only the mother but most likely the child as well.
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| 13. |
- Allgurin, Monika, 1982-, et al.
(author)
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Battling parenting : The consequences of secure care interventions on parents
- 2023
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 28:1, s. 108-116
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Secure care in Sweden is the most intrusive child welfare intervention, and children and their family members have restricted contact. For each child in secure care, there are at least twice as many affected family members and parents who must manage the consequences of this institutionalization. Clearly, it is just as important to understand how secure care affects parents as it is to understand how secure care affects children. To address this issue, we conducted in-depth interviews with 11 parents to eight children who had been placed in secure care during their childhood, focusing on the institutional and societal structures that affected these parents and their parenting. With a narrative approach, stories alluding to a metaphor of war are identified. These stories reveal how all parents (but especially single mothers) are affected by their diverse socio-economic positions and the rigid frames of family life presumed by child welfare interventions. In these narratives, parenting emerges as a social practice rather than a skill. Above all, the stories demonstrate a great deal of vulnerability and sensitivity of parenting. The findings raise critical questions about the meaning and overarching consequences of institutional interventions in a family life.
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| 14. |
- Avby, Gunilla, et al.
(author)
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Knowledge use and learning in everyday social work practice : A study in child investigation work
- 2017
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22:Supplement S4, s. 51-61
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to explore knowledge use and learning among social workers in everyday child investigation work. Research was undertaken in two Swedish children’s services departments. The study applied an ethnographic approach. Methods for data collection included interviews, participant observations, reflective dialogues and a documentary analysis of case files. The social workers’ knowledge sources were classified into research-based, practice-based and ordinary knowledge. The findings show that the social workers preferred practice-based knowledge, which was primarily conveyed from colleagues and previous experience, and rarely consulted knowledge from sources found outside the practice setting. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the integration of knowledge was made possible through the social workers' engagement in both a verbal and a more cognitive (tacit) reasoning activity, processes that fostered learning at work. The social workers’ learning was predominantly adaptive as they learned to handle tasks in a fairly routinized way on the basis of rules or procedures. The findings lend support to the notion that the use of different knowledge forms could potentially trigger learning in everyday social work.
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| 15. |
- Bengtsson, Mattias, et al.
(author)
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Young care leavers’ expectations of their future : A question of time horizon
- 2018
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 23:2, s. 188-195
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper investigates young care leavers’ expectations of their future after discharge from care. The results are based on qualitative longitudinal data where 16- to 21-year-old care leavers (n = 15) were interviewed twice, first when still in care but planning for their discharge (T1) and the second time 6–9 months later (T2). The analysis using a general inductive approach showed that their expectations were dependent on the time horizon and that there was an obvious difference between the young informants’ short- and long-term expectations. Their short-term expectations consisted of worries connected to their approaching discharge (at T1) and how to cope with challenges of everyday life after discharge from care (at T2). These results seem to echo negative outcomes shown in previous quantitative research. However, the informants’ long-term expectations provide a different picture, being mainly positive in both interviews (T1 and T2). The results are discussed from a life course perspective, where the informants’ visions of their future are framed and understood in terms of the different stages of their transition process.
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| 16. |
- Bergman, Ann-Sofie, Docent i socialt arbete, 1963-, et al.
(author)
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Factors Associated With Stability for Children in Family Foster Care : A Study of Case Files in Six Municipalities in Sweden
- 2024
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Stability is vital for the development, health and relationships of children in family foster care. Instability can lead to social and school issues, low self-esteem and diminished trust in caregivers. This article examines the risk and protective factors for stability for these children. Data, drawn from case files in six municipalities (n = 116), combine qualitative and quantitative analyses for a comprehensive understanding. Twenty children from each municipality were selected, with 10 in stable placements (lived in one family foster home for over a year) and 10 in unstable placements (lived in at least two different family foster homes). Quantitative results highlight the importance of factors like familiar placements, a child's age at the time of placement, behavioural challenges and the number of children in the foster home. Stable placements were more common in homes with fewer children (including foster and biological children). Qualitative findings show that in some instances, breakdowns in foster care placements could not be foreseen, often arising from stressful events within the foster family's life after the child's placement. Additionally, we observed that breakdowns sometimes resulted from foster parents lacking the necessary resources to address the child's requirements, particularly in cases involving children with behavioural challenges or extensive needs.
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| 17. |
- Bergström, Martin, et al.
(author)
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Interventions in child welfare : A Swedish inventory
- 2023
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 28:1, s. 117-124
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Swedish child welfare, there are no mandatory guidelines on what interventions to use. Local authorities are able to set their own criteria for implementing or designing interventions. We carried out a survey to identify interventions in use in Children's Social Services and Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Care in Sweden. A total of 102 interventions were stated to have been in use, with between 31 and 45 different interventions for each of the four different child welfare populations. Of the 102 interventions, 56 were designed outside Sweden and later imported. Only 27 interventions were supported with some kind of research evidence. About half of the interventions targeted the child. Possible implications for practice and research are discussed.
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| 18. |
- Bolin, Anette, 1962-
(author)
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Children's agency in interprofessional collaborative meetings in child welfare work
- 2016
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 21:4, s. 502-511
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The concept of children's agency can be used to understand how children actively shape their lives. While in social work there is a growing body of research on how children experience meetings that involve collaborating professionals, little is known about the ways in which they exert an influence.The purpose of the study is, in a Swedish context, to investigate children's perceptions of their agentic capacity in regulating participation and exerting an influence on outcomes in interprofessional collaborative meetings. Interviews were carried out with 28 children in receipt of social services support. Findings revealed that children perceive professionals' talk as restricting opportunities for input. They also perceive that they have the capacity to exercise agency by (i) conforming to expectations by feigning boredom and seeming disengaged, but at the same time paying close attention; (ii) by using exit strategies; and (iii) by developing 'in-situ' strategies to end meetings. Rather than, as previously suggested, being powerless in such circumstances, the children tell how they carefully assess situations, and, from a position of apparent subordination, talk of ways of acting that reveal their agentic capacity. These insights are of importance for practitioners who are encouraged to look beyond behaviours that first meet the eye.
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| 19. |
- Bruno, Linnéa, 1975-, et al.
(author)
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Conversations about violence, risk and responsibility with divorced and support-seeking fathers in Sweden
- 2023
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 28:3, s. 764-773
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this paper is to analyse approaches to issues of risk, responsibility and representations of violence in women social workers' conversations with alleged or confirmed violent fathers. The study adds to a growing body of research on agencies' handling of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the context of separation. Empirically, the study draws from 12 structured, audio recorded and transcribed interviews with support-seeking and divorced fathers, from five municipalities in Sweden, conducted as part of a cooperation project in which a risk-detection method (Family Law Detection Of Overall Risk Screen [FL-DOORS]) was also tested. The results suggest a tension between different professional tasks. To validate information on IPV, detect risk and enhance a child perspective competes with other professional projects, most obviously with promoting cooperation between parents. The study confirms previous research, which demonstrates unique challenges facing women social workers and counsellors when working with men as perpetrators. In conclusion, the paper concurs with the call for a focus on responsibility and on safe parenting in professional conversations with allegedly or confirmed abusive fathers.
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| 20. |
- Čekaitė, Asta, Professor, 1972-, et al.
(author)
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Social and Emotional Functions of Institutional Touch in the Relational Care of Young Children
- 2024
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study reports results concerning close embodied practices, involving touch, in early childhood care settings in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data—video recordings of everyday practices in contexts of childcare—were collected during various phases of the pandemic. The study demonstrates a broad range of uses of touch, by adults and children themselves in various age groups and for various social purposes. Touch as embodied intimacy was initiated by educators, and by children, both within their peer group and towards educators. Touch served the purposes of embodied intimacy, emotion regulation, social affiliation, social control, instructions and play. We highlight the detailed ways in which practitioners' actions sustain children's bodily integrity and provide them with embodied agency, participation and learning. Professional touch practices with young children are discussed in the context of ‘no-touch’ views in social work and care work with children. It is suggested that insights into the social and emotional uses of institutional touch can inform social work practice, especially child and family social work, and residential care.
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| 21. |
- Enell, Sofia, et al.
(author)
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Searching for the right track : managing care trajectories in child welfare
- 2017
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22:1, s. 398-408
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper examines caseworkers' efforts to plan and find appropriate interventions for troublesome young people. Strauss's concept oftrajectory is applied to analyse how Swedish caseworkers shape and manage the evolving care trajectories using assessments for young people in secure accommodation, i.e. institutional youth assessments. The empirical material consists of surveys to 82 caseworkers concerning 85 institutional youth assessments and interviews with 16 of these caseworkers. The findings reveal ongoing care trajectories that are out of control where the assessments are seen as an opportunity of change for the youths. Diagnoses, confirmations and plans for action are provided through the assessments and used by the caseworkers in negotiations for resources. Three orientations of contributions to the caseworkers' management of care trajectories were found, all reflecting the many uncertainties of child welfare work:child centred, professional and discharge of liability. In conclusion, the caseworkers searched for the right measures to manage change and achieve youth compliance, but it was also a matter of managing professional and organizational contingencies and passing on responsibility.
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| 22. |
- Engwall, Kristina, 1969-, et al.
(author)
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Matching Process Concerning Children With Disabilities in Family Foster Care
- 2024
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Children with disabilities are over-represented in foster care and exposed to more disruptions. This is unfortunate because they need long-term relationships and predictability, as well as access to special schools and health care. Disruption can be the result of a poor match between the child and the foster family. In this article, we focus on the matching process in relation to children with disabilities. Zeijlmans et al. describe matching as the process by which social workers move from principles of good match-ing to realistic matching, depending on existing premises. Using their model, we analyse the matching process for children with disabilities in Sweden. The study is based on 31 individual interviews and six group interviews with social workers and social work managers. They describe how they take into account the family climate, family composition and prior knowledge and/or experience of disability in the foster home. However, disruptions occur even when these conditions are met. Stable placements seem to be more related to the fostered child's progress when the family's efforts are rewarded. We also address the complex issue of what disability actually means in the context of foster care, given the interrelatedness of trauma, maltreatment and impairment.
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| 23. |
- Engwall, Kristina, 1969-, et al.
(author)
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Matching Process Concerning Children With Disabilities in Family Foster Care
- 2024
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Children with disabilities are over-represented in foster care and exposed to more disruptions. This is unfortunate because they need long-term relationships and predictability, as well as access to special schools and health care. Disruption can be the result of a poor match between the child and the foster family. In this article, we focus on the matching process in relation to children with disabilities. Zeijlmans et al. describe matching as the process by which social workers move from principles of good matching to realistic matching, depending on existing premises. Using their model, we analyse the matching process for children with disabilities in Sweden. The study is based on 31 individual interviews and six group interviews with social workers and social work managers. They describe how they take into account the family climate, family composition and prior knowledge and/or experience of disability in the foster home. However, disruptions occur even when these conditions are met. Stable placements seem to be more related to the fostered child's progress when the family's efforts are rewarded. We also address the complex issue of what disability actually means in the context of foster care, given the interrelatedness of trauma, maltreatment and impairment.
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| 24. |
- Forkby, Torbjörn, Professor, 1965-, et al.
(author)
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Making Sense of Common Sense. : Examining the decision-making of politically appointed representatives in Swedish child protection
- 2016
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 21:1, s. 14-25
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A distinguishing feature of Swedish child protection is the direct andvindirect influence on decision-making in individual cases by representatives appointed by their elected political parties. As members of local committees, they take the most interventionist and costly decisions themselves, informed by care proposals submitted by professional social workers. Other decisions are delegated to professional social workers. In direct decision-making, they are supposed to act as laypersons using their own judgement and experience, not as politicians. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse these committees, their role and responsibilities, and possible influence of politics on child protection. A mixed method was used, with a survey sent to 467 representatives, structured interviews with 99 secretaries of local committees and data drawn from national statistics. The Swedish model is discussed as a hybrid system influenced not only by professional, bureaucratic, political and market governance logics but also by laypersons. One conclusion is that although child protection is directly influenced by politics, the reverse is also true. By exposing politicians to the difficult life circumstances and societal shortcomings experienced by vulnerable children, the system can, in turn, have an impact on politics at the municipal level.
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| 25. |
- Forsman, Hilma
(author)
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Foster carers’ experiences of a paired reading literacy intervention with looked-after children
- 2017
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22:1, s. 409-418
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Previous studies have shown that paired reading, a structured literacy intervention, is a promising method for improving looked-after children's literacy skills. The aim of this study was to explore variations in foster carers' experiences of conducting the intervention. Interviews were carried out with 15 Swedish foster carers with varying experiences in programme compliance and of practicing the method. Findings suggest that the intervention process starts with getting carers involved, which seems to be dependent on a positive carer attitude. Integrating the reading training in the everyday life is another important aspect, which evolves around motivating the child and prioritizing the reading sessions. Furthermore, the results emphasize the need of having a flexible approach when delivering the intervention. The results suggest that it is possible to engage foster carers in literacy training for looked-after children and that paired reading can provide a model for competent reading and also result in improved child/carer relations. However, participants need support, and in some cases adjustments in the day-to-day delivery of the intervention are required.
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| 26. |
- Fylkesnes, Marte Knag, et al.
(author)
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Negotiating deficiency : exploring ethnic minority parents' narratives about encountering child welfare services in Norway
- 2018
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In: Child & Family Social Work. - Hoboken : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 23:2, s. 196-203
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Evaluating the participatory opportunities for service users within social welfare institutions is a pressing issue. In this article, we explore a group of ethnic minority parents' experiences with child welfare services (CWS) in Norway. A strong narrative theme was deficiency positioning—how lacking a Norwegian normative set of knowledge and skills challenged the parents' opportunities to participate. We analysed how deficiency positioning was perceived, negotiated, and contested in the parents' accounts, and 4 themes emerged: (a) learning to parent, (b) contesting expert knowledge, (c) learning to be a client, and (d) constructing CWS deficiency. Nancy Fraser's concept of “participatory parity” was applied to explore how current institutional structures may enable and limit parents' participation. The analysis provides insight into agencies and informants' sense-making processes as well as the diverse resources and strategies that parents draw upon in the CWS encounter. Furthermore, we argue that an interplay between a strong focus on “parenting skills” and bureaucratic and economic structures positions ethnic minority parents as deficient, thus providing powerful mechanisms for marginalization. Implications for case work and institutional levels are discussed.
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| 27. |
- Gorjy, Rebecca Soraya, et al.
(author)
-
"It's better than it used to be" : Perspectives of adolescent siblings of children with an autism spectrum condition
- 2017
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22:4, s. 1488-1496
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article reports on the lived experiences of 11 adolescents who have a brother or a sister with a diagnosis of autism spectrum condition. Through semistructured, in-depth, in-person interviews, these adolescents shared their experiences and perceptions. These exploratory findings can be used to inform the practice of social workers and other health professionals, and future research. Implications for practice focus on the importance of exploring experiences and perceptions of siblings of children diagnosed with autism spectrum condition to enhance support services for these siblings.
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| 28. |
- Heimer, Maria, 1968-, et al.
(author)
-
Vulnerable children's rights to participation, protection, and provision : The process of defining the problem in Swedish child and family welfare
- 2018
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 23:2, s. 316-323
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study addresses the relationship between children's participation and the protection and provision offered to them by social services in Sweden. It applies a theoretical framework for analysing child welfare that is anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. How child participation may affect child protection and provision is examined empirically using case documentation from 2 municipalities. The main finding is that when children are not given voice or opportunity to influence the framing of what the problem is, the design of protection and care tends to be poorly matched to the actual problems documented in the child investigation and vice versa; when children can influence framing, this is associated with well-matched protection and care. This suggests that traditional child welfare ethos, to the effect that protection should be of such overriding concern that children even should be protected from participation, is misguided. The study further illustrates the intrinsic problems with the family orientation of Swedish social services and its reliance on partnership with parents, which makes it difficult to live up to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Incorporating child participation into existing service models can transform Swedish social services to an augmented child-focused system that by ensuring participation also promotes protection and provision.
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| 29. |
- Hultman, Elin, 1976, et al.
(author)
-
Age limits for participation in child protection court proceedings in Sweden
- 2020
-
In: Child and Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 25:2, s. 304-312
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Swedish legislation, children have the right to participate in child protection proceedings. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse the notion of age and maturity in child protection proceedings in order to elucidate how these aspects could influence children's rights to participate. We focus on the view of three groups of actors involved in child protection proceedings in Sweden—social workers, lawyers, and laypersons in social welfare boards and administrative courts—and on how children's age and maturity should be taken into consideration in decisions on their participation in court. The analysis is based on survey data. The study found that social workers, laypersons, and lawyers have different views on when children are old enough to have the right to litigate in court. Additionally, there is no consensus on how the maturity of the child can be assessed to inform the decision about participation. More discussion is needed about what competences a child needs to participate in court and to what extent this right should be limited by their age. Importantly, courts and decision-making proceedings can be made more child friendly.
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| 30. |
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| 31. |
- Izaguirre, Ainhoa, et al.
(author)
-
Differences in the reactions of adolescents to family violence
- 2021
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 26:3, s. 425-433
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intimate partner violence is a pervasive problem and many children and adolescents live under such circumstances. The aim of this research is to qualitatively explore variations among adolescents' reactions to violence occurring at their homes by trying to identify specific patterns in how these adolescents reacted to the violence and how this is related to the length of time they have been exposed to the violence. Fifty‐eight adolescents (26 boys and 32 girls, 13–18 years of age) recruited in their schools completed a self‐report questionnaire including qualitative open questions regarding the beginning of the violence and their reactions to it. Adolescents often described having reacted to the violence by attempting to distance themselves from it, or by interfering to protect their mother. Only the adolescents who began witnessing family violence at a specific point in time, when something significant happened in their families or because of changes in society, expressed not wanting to think about it or described being impeded from interfering or protecting their mothers because they felt distressed. Among the adolescents who had experienced family violence for their entire life, they often described that they did nothing to prevent the violence or they avoided thinking about it.
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| 32. |
- Janeslätt, Gunnel, 1952-, et al.
(author)
-
Experiences of the maternal role and support in mothers with cognitive limitations who have children in placement
- 2019
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 24:4, s. 494-502
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Sweden, when needed, children of mothers with cognitive limitations are placed infoster homes. There is a lack of knowledge about the mothers with cognitive limitations,their experiences of their maternal role, whether they get the support neededto maintain the relationship with their children, and whether the support system isadapted to mothers with cognitive limitations. The aim was to describe the experiencesof the maternal role and support given in mothers with cognitive limitationswho have children in placement. An explorative and qualitative design was used.Eleven respondents were interviewed with support from a study‐specific guide. Amodel representing the respondents' experiences revealed one theme “Struggling,dependent and frustrated mothers,” and three categories: I am a mother, I am dependenton an incomprehensible system, and I reluctantly accept my situation. Motherswith children in placement experience a threat to their identity and experience a needto alter their maternal role. They need adapted support to understand the decisionsmade and facilitate the cooperation with child protection services and the fosterhome. Offering service adapted to their cognitive limitations could be helpful forthe struggling, dependent, and frustrated mothers.
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| 33. |
- Järkestig Berggren, Ulrika, 1969-, et al.
(author)
-
Young carers in Sweden — A pilot study of care activities, view of caring, and psychological well‐being
- 2019
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 24:2, s. 292-300
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Children who have parents with any kind of illness may become young carers who take a responsibility not expected of children for household tasks, or personal or emotional care for parents and siblings. So far, little is known about children in Sweden who are at risk of becoming young carers. The aim of this article is therefore to explore the extent and impact of children's caring activities as reported in a pilot study by a sample of children in Sweden. A number of international questionnaires measuring the amount of caring activities, impact of caring, quality of life, and psychological well‐being were translated and combined into a survey. The pilot survey was completed by 30 children 10–18 years of age. Also, when completing the survey, the children were interviewed concerning their experiences of caregiving. The participants report on a group level emotional symptoms such as fear and nervousness above the clinical cut‐off value. They also rate a lower level of caring compared with findings from the United Kingdom, but they report a higher degree of negative impact of caring than young carers in the United Kingdom.
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| 34. |
- Kalin, Torbjörn, et al.
(author)
-
How do child welfare referrals in Sweden match children's self-reporting of severe exposure?
- 2022
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 27:2, s. 100-111
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Child welfare services (CWS) rely on referrals from professionals and civilians to address maltreatment and behavioural problems. To our knowledge, no prior study explored to what extent children who self-reported severe exposure to maltreatment or behavioural problems are referred to the CWS. This study is based on two data sets on a Swedish community sample of 1884 children: (i) self-reports in four waves during adolescence, including indicators of severe exposure, and (ii) a retrospective systematic review of all children's CWS records at age 18. According to self-reports, 445 matched one or more indicators of severe exposure. In total, 389 children of the total sample were referred, but only 169 of the self-reported severely exposed. Severely exposed children were more likely to be referred than other children, adjusting for several background factors. Children who did not experience severe exposure but lived in single-parent families, teenage parent families, poor families or immigrant families were more likely to be referred to CWS than other children. The findings are discussed from a children's rights perspective and inequity in relation to social work practice. In conclusion, although the referral rates are high, many children who are severely exposed to child maltreatment and behavioural problems remain undetected.
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| 35. |
- Karlsson, Henrik, et al.
(author)
-
Quality of the analysis-A performance management system for the analytical stage of child-protection investigations
- 2020
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 25:4, s. 856-864
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article presents a performance management system for reviewing the quality of written analyses in child-protection investigations. The system, called quality of the analysis (QUAL), is based on the Swedish adaptation of the British Integrated Children's System and Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families called Children's Needs in Focus (BBIC). QUAL was applied to 280 child-protection investigations to review the compliance with the BBIC standards. The investigations took place in 2011 and 2014. The results indicate improvements in various quality indicators, such as answers provided to all investigative questions, both risk and protective factors documented, and an assessment of the child's need for protection or support documented. However, in 40% of the investigations from 2014, the analytical stage was more a summary than an analysis. Many countries struggle to find and develop tools that can provide feasible systematic feedback on professional performance and support quality improvement in child-protection work. We suggest that QUAL can be used as one method among others to develop and strengthen the analytical work in practice by visualizing and monitoring the written analysis. QUAL may function as a tool to stimulate professional development, facilitate organizational learning, and improve investigative work.
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| 36. |
- Lind, Judith, 1971-, et al.
(author)
-
Displays of parent suitability in adoption assessment reports
- 2017
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22:S1, s. 53-63
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Through adoption, the state actively contributes to creating families. It therefore also assumes the role of guarantor of the child’s best interests in the adoption process, which entails assessing the suitability of presumptive adoptive parents. In the present article, we use the concluding sections of assessment reports on applicants for intercountry adoption in Sweden to answer the following question: What must be said about an individual or a couple in order for her/them to be seen as a suitable adoptive parent? We thus assume that report conclusions serve to display parent suitability to their audiences. The assessment aligns with Swedish national adoption guidelines, and the study shows how the assessment handbook comes to serve as a catalogue of arguments that not only define good parenthood, but also outline a way of life that is suitable for parenthood. The analysis illustrates how valid arguments for granting consent to adopt refer to three layers of suitability. They include not only the applicants’ insights into and knowledge about adoption in particular and children in general, but also their conventional and orderly life, i.e. a life free from distractions that could hinder a wholehearted focus on children and family life.
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| 37. |
- Lindahl, Robert, 1984-, et al.
(author)
-
Foster children's experiences and expectations concerning the child-welfare officer role : Prerequisites and obstacles for close and trustful relationships
- 2017
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22:4, s. 1415-1422
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The question of whether the Swedish social services are fulfilling their obligation to monitor and support children in foster care is attracting increasing attention. The importance of closeness and trust between children and their child-welfare officers has been highlighted in particular. The aim of this article is to study foster children's experiences and expectations concerning the role of the child-welfare officer, and how these constitute prerequisites for, and possible obstacles to the officers developing close and trustful relationships with the children under prevailing institutional conditions. Data from our evaluation of a national pilot project with supervision representatives provide the empirical basis. Our theoretical point of departure is that the relationship between the child and the child-welfare officer is affected by the officer's rolea role that is negotiated under the prevailing institutional conditions and in interaction with the children's experiences of and expectations about that role. The results show that most children emphasize that the relationship with their officer is negatively affected by a lack of time, availability, and trust. It is also weakened by the children's general expectation that child-welfare officers only act in their official role, a role that is associated with a formal and distanced relationship.
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| 38. |
- Linell, Hanna
(author)
-
The process of disclosing child abuse : a study of Swedish Social Services protection in child abuse cases
- 2017
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22:Supplement S4, s. 11-19
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper presents findings from a study of judgements concerning 137 children (13–18 years) where protection by the Swedish Social Services was applied for. The paper explores the disclosure of physical, sexual and emotional child abuse including experiences of domestic violence and the process following a disclosure. A central finding is that the majority of children (71%) could be described as having intentionally disclosed the abuse. The findings also suggest that many of the children had come a long way in an emotional and cognitive process before the decision to disclose, and that disclosure was often made in conjunction with a decision to leave the alleged abusers. These findings support previous research suggesting children's intentional disclosure as an important predictor of decisions regarding alternative care. Another finding is that the process following the disclosure was described by the children as intensely challenging with active pressure and threats from relatives and feelings of fear, guilt and ambivalence. These findings have implications for both practice and research on how the safeguarding system can help children in the process of disclosure and protect those who do disclose.
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| 39. |
- Michelson, Stina
(author)
-
Negotiating master narratives : The practice of ‘counterstorying’ in children's personal narratives about family‐related adversities
- 2022
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 27:4, s. 616-625
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Only limited attention has been drawn to children's narrative practice of negotiating cultural ideas about who they are and what they can do. This paper focuses on children living in families where adults have psychosocial problems and analyses how they negotiate different family-related and/or societal master narratives about their identity and agency. Twenty-two children, 6–17 years old, have been interviewed about themselves and their lives. The findings suggest three master narratives as central in children's telling: the story of the child as problem bearer, the story of the child as inheritor of psychosocial problems and the story of the child as an unknowledgeable object. The analysis shows that children negotiate these master narratives by positioning and repositioning themselves and others in, and through, their telling. The core contribution of the study is the notion that children's problem descriptions contain important information about both material and discursive aspects of the problematic situation. Through listening to children's stories, social work practitioners and researchers can deepen their understanding of how the individual child relates to, and negotiates, wider cultural ideas about identity and agency. This knowledge is relevant in the pursuit of matching support with the child's needs and perspective.
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| 40. |
- Moberg Stephenson, Maria, 1978-, et al.
(author)
-
Making sense of places : Belonging among “unaccompanied” young migrants in kinship care in a Swedish suburb
- 2020
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 25:4, s. 742-750
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- For young people who have migrated unaccompanied by parents or other legal guardians, it is important to feel a sense of belonging. However, belonging is not fixed to one place. This study aims to explore how young migrants in kinship care in a Swedish suburb describe what different places mean to them and what these descriptions can tell us about their sense of belonging. In this study, semi-structured interviews with 11 young migrants between 16 and 21 years of age who took part in a mentoring programme are analysed by thematic analysis. Our analysis reveals that (a) the young people described four “levels” of place as meaningful in different ways—their kinship homes, the local community, the country they currently inhabit, and the world and that (b) it was through the interrelationships between these levels that their described sense of belonging emerged. To counterbalance young migrants' uncertain future, social interventions are needed that can help them to meet other people and get wider social networks in order to gain a sense of belonging in the new country.
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| 41. |
- Nygren, Karina, 1974-, et al.
(author)
-
What about the fathers? The presence and absence of the father in social work practice in England, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden : A comparative study
- 2019
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 24:1, s. 148-155
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Within northern Europe, gendered roles and responsibilities within the family have been challenged through an emergence of different family forms, increasing cultural diversity, and through progressive developments in welfare policies. To varying degrees, welfare policies in different EU countries support a dual-earner model and encourage men to be more active as fathers by reinforcing statutory rights and responsibilities. In child welfare practice, there has traditionally been a strong emphasis on women as mothers being primary carers for the children, while fathers are less active or absence carers. This paper explores, in four national welfare contexts, how child welfare social workers include fathers in practice decisions. Data was collected using focus group interviews with social workers from England, Ireland, Norway and Sweden. Similarities and differences emerge in relation to services and the focus of social work assessments. However, overall, the research suggests that despite gains in policy and legislation that promote gender equality, fathers remain largely absent in child welfare practice decisions about the parenting of their children. From the research, we raise questions for social work practice and the development of welfare policies.
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| 42. |
- Pålsson, David
(author)
-
Conditioned agency? The role of children in the audit of Swedish residential care
- 2017
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22:S2, s. 33-42
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- At a policy level, governments increasingly stress the importance of children's rights and their ability to participate in decision-making in child welfare services. An example of this is that the Swedish inspectorate targeting children in residential care is required to consult children and to take account of their opinions. This paper details a study exploring the influence that the inspectorate grants children and particularly how children's views influence the inspection process. The study draws on interviews and observations of inspectors as well as an analysis of a representative sample (n = 147) of documentation from inspections performed during 2012. The result indicates different inspectorial rationales, which in turn influence the importance children's opinions are assigned in the inspection process. Moreover, the findings demonstrate difficulties in giving children's views substantial impact on the inspection process. This can be attributed to the fact that most of the regulatory quality criteria used by the authority diverge from the aspects of care that children attach most importance to. The study adds empirical findings to how the participation of children is realized during inspection.
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| 43. |
- Pålsson, David, 1986-, et al.
(author)
-
Licence Loss : Revocations of Residential Care Licences in Four Nordic Countries
- 2024
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With placement in residential care, society assumes overall responsibility for a child's daily care, well-being and development. How public authorities respond to poor care quality is of crucial importance. To guarantee quality care and minimise risks, welfare states increasingly develop different mechanisms and systems to supervise out-of-home care. In this article, we analyse how central inspectorates in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden deal with what can be conceived as the last supervisory measure, namely, the revocation of licences. The aim is to describe and analyse how frequently and why national inspectorates in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden withdraw residential care licences. The findings are based on an analysis of all available documented reports on revocation decisions between 2017 and 2021. The findings reveal that, between 2017 and 2021, there were 53 licence suspensions or revocations across the four countries, albeit with variations among the nations. Furthermore, the study shows that residential care units (RCUs) generally have a documented history of interactions with inspectorates. Revocation decisions were often attributed to several reasons, with safety, staff-related concerns and documentation deficiencies being the primary factors. The findings are discussed based on concepts and theory on regulation and supervision.
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| 44. |
- Sandberg, Linn, 1983-
(author)
-
Being there for my grandchild : grandparents’ responses to their grandchildren’s exposure to domestic violence
- 2016
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 21:2, s. 136-145
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Grandparents whose grandchildren are exposed to domestic violence are faced with some unique challenges in their grandparenting, which have thus far been little discussed in research. This paper discusses the narratives of 10 Swedish grandparents whose grandchildren have been exposed to violence towards their mother. The aim was to explore grandparents’ narrations of their responses in the face of violence, and their understanding of the role they play in their gran- dchildren’s social networks. Two significant responses are discussed: ‘being there’ and ‘acknowledging the independence and self- determination of the adult children’. Grandparents experienced these responses as contradictory and felt powerless when it came to their possibilities to protect their grandchildren. The paper suggests that grandparents could be a resource for domestic violence services, and social work practice needs to assess the roles of grandparents of children exposed to domestic violence. Social workers should con- sider the challenges these grandparents are facing and what support they may need in order to support their grandchildren.
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| 45. |
- Severinsson, Susanne, et al.
(author)
-
Resistance as a means of creating accountability in child welfare institutions
- 2015
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 20:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper investigates the identity constructions of youths who are objects of special interventions in the area of child welfare. The aim of the paper was to explore the various dimensions of resistance to institutional identities among youths in special schools and fostercare institutions. Interviews were conducted with adolescents aged between 12 and 15, identified as having social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The analysis generates knowledge about society’s interventions as well as how adolescents respond to offered institutionalidentities by adopting different kinds of discursive resistance.The paper highlights the different types of discursive resistance that adolescents use to present themselves as accountable individuals anddiscusses the importance of considering resistance as a positive force rather than as something that must be defeated.
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| 46. |
- Shanks, Emelie, et al.
(author)
-
Harmful care. To what extent is terminology from medicine and clinical psychology applicable to out‐of‐home care?
- 2020
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 25:1, s. 92-99
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Research concerning outcomes for children who have been placed in out‐of‐home care has indicated that the care may have unwanted consequences. However, there has been no coherent terminology for differentiating between different types of such unwanted consequences. In this article therefore, we attempt to disentangle different aspects of potentially harmful care for looked after children, as well as to discuss potential pathways to more systematically approach and report adverse events for this group. In this endeavour, we turn to two adjacent disciplines, medicine and psychology, where these issues have received more interest. The applicability of the concepts used in these fields is discussed, and it is concluded that although they provide some help in categorizing different aspects of harmful care, the complexity of out‐of‐home care makes existing models difficult to adopt without adjustments. This has consequences for the possibility of evaluating care in research, as well as for monitoring adverse events in practice. Importantly, the causality will often be unknown. We therefore suggest that it is essential to shed more light on how decisions should be made about when to intervene or not in out‐of‐home care, despite limited information.
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| 47. |
- Shuker, L., et al.
(author)
-
Teenagers in foster care: Issues, themes, and debates from and for practice and policy
- 2019
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 24:3, s. 349-353
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The task of fostering adolescents is unique, requiring skills, qualities, and information that acknowledge each young person's particular needs. This editorial summarises a range of research in this special issue covering parenting styles, transitions out of care, child sexual exploitation, and the needs of LGBTQ and separated teenagers. Three themes emerging from the papers are discussed: autonomy and control; risk, resilience, and trauma; and relationships, identity, and stigma.
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| 48. |
- Storo, J., et al.
(author)
-
A comparison of state support for young people leaving care in Norway and Sweden: Differences within comparable welfare systems
- 2019
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 24:3, s. 393-399
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this article is to account for and discuss support to young care leavers within the comparable welfare regimes of Norway and Sweden and to explore key differences between these 2 countries. This model implies that children and young people are included and entitled to support through being family members, not as independent actors in their own right. This makes young care leaver's transition from care to adulthood problematic-as they often do not have access to family support, they may be positioned in a vacuum where they are clients neither entitled to support from the child welfare system nor supported by their families of origin. In Norway, legislators and policymakers have agreed that care leavers need particular attention and targeted support, whereas in Sweden, there has been no such agreement. However, the Norwegian system of giving leaving care services is not strong enough to provide transition support to all care leavers, even if the legislation gives stronger protection than in Sweden. The article discusses the need for targeted measures of support for a successful care-leaving process.
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| 49. |
- Svärd, Veronica
(author)
-
Assessing children at risk : organizational and professional conditions within children's hospitals
- 2017
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 22, s. 81-91
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- According to the Swedish Social Services Act, all health personnel are required to report children whom they suspect are subject to maltreatment. This paper describes the organizational and professional conditions in four Swedish children's hospitals regarding the reporting process. Specifically, the study focused on knowledge of risk to children, legal frameworks and the perceptions of organizational support and explored the differences between the hospitals and professional groups. The method used was a quantitative questionnaire, and 295 personnel responded. Hospitals differed in the level of organizational support offered to staff. Importantly, the professional groups showed different levels of knowledge and awareness about structures supporting their reporting obligations, with nurses and nurse assistants showing a lower level of awareness than physicians and hospital social workers. The paper argues that all professional groups need to have equal access to education, with the opportunity to become more involved in the assessment and reporting process and to strengthen multidisciplinary structures. Further, this would reduce risk, dispel the perception that work with children is 'dirty work' and counter strategies of avoidance among some professionals.
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| 50. |
- Söderqvist, Åsa, 1982-, et al.
(author)
-
Home sweet home? : Professionals' understanding of ‘home’ within residential care for unaccompanied youths in Sweden
- 2016
-
In: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 21:4, s. 591-599
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The number of unaccompanied minors arriving in Sweden continues to rise. The majority are placed in residential care units. This qualitative study aims to increase the understanding given by the professionals to the concept of home' within the framework of residential care for unaccompanied young people. Data are based on participatory observations at two residential care units, followed up by individual interviews with staff. The findings confirm that the concept of home has a complex meaning involving both objective aspects such as physical buildings, and more subjective components that can be seen as state of mind. The staff's desire to offer an ordinary home' fails because of the surveillance, their dominant positions and especially due to the legal restrictions that were not initially meant for this target group. Unaccompanied young people have to be considered based on their own specific needs in order to make it possible for society to offer the most suitable care.
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