User participation in elderly social care : A qualitative study about social service officers experiences about user participation in elderly social care

User participation within social work has caught more attention in the public sector of Sweden. The aim of this study is to gain understanding of how user participation as taking into consideration in the field of care for the elderly. The study is based on six semi-structured interviews with six social service officers, therefore the study is based on their perspectives and experiences. In order to gain qualitative data, the method of meaning categorization was used, which resulted in three association themes: user participation, limitations, relationships and approach. The results were then analyzed together with previous research, and through Lipskys’ (1980) theory “Street-level bureaucrats”. The results of the study indicate that user participation is complex in practice and therefore the social service officer have to find a way to manage and implement user participation in their work. Also, that there are some factors that affect user participation e.g. guidelines, relatives, users with cognitive impairment and furthermore the social service officer himself.