Hur hanterar socialtjänsten våld i nära relationer? : En studie om hur socialarbetare hjälper våldsutsatta kvinnor

The aim of this study is to find out the resources and support actions the social services in Stockholm offer women who are abused by men in partnerships and how the social workers experience their room to maneuver in order to help these women. In order to answer the aim of the study, we have analyzed interviews with staff who works in social services, specifically in family violence centers. To interpret our empirical data, we have used four different theories. These are power, empowerment, organizational theory and violence normalization process. The results of the study show that social services offer these abused women two types of aid and support; acute and long term support actions. The emergency/acute interventions are mainly sheltered housing. Long-term assistance efforts include counseling, housing priority, financial assistance and the protection of personal data. The results show that the social workers work is based on different methods and action plans in order to help abused women. Their work builds mainly upon the National Board of health and welfare guidelines and the social services law. However, their work is also based on motivational interviewing, CBT, SOC and empowerment. The results show that there are flaws in their work. Cooperation between various organizations, such as police and medical services are unsatisfactory. Time and resources in terms of money are insufficient to spread the knowledge about the problems and follow-up of cases after the end of a case