Bringing the family back in. On role assignment and clientification in the Swedish social services

In Sweden, municipal social services provide help and support for vulnerable people with a variety of needs. Although the family has long been a target of social work interventions, it is unclear how it is brought into the... [ view full abstract ]

In Sweden, municipal social services provide help and support for vulnerable people with a variety of needs. Although the family has long been a target of social work interventions, it is unclear how it is brought into the casework process in the social services. Therefore, our research investigated processes of client-making and role assignment in five sectors: economic support, child welfare, addictions, disability, and care of older persons. We carried out focus group interviews with social workers in each of these sectors in a mid-sized community in central Sweden. Findings showed that the clienthood and family are interpreted in different ways. The family is brought into or kept out of service provision in ways that are connected to social workers’ construction of the family as either expert, client or non-client. The role of the family may also change during the casework process. Implications for family focused practice are discussed.