Ett stort ansvar för barn som far illa - en c-uppsats om fem förskollärares tankar kring anmälningsplikt

The aim of this study was to highlight preschool teacher´s thoughts about their mandatory reporting duty, in relation to their own actions and the social service. Several studies show that there is a difference between how many children that is suspected maltreated and how many children are reported to social service. I conducted interviews with five preschool teachers who are employed at municipal preschools in the same municipal in southern Sweden. The respondents took part in two typical case vignettes at the interview sessions, one about a boy whose mother was suspected of alcohol abuse and one about a girl who did not receive the care she needed, either physically or mentally. The empirical data was analyzed based on theory of discretion and accounts. The analysis shows a variety of reasons why the mandatory reporting in not used and how preschool teachers reason about themselves and social services. All participants had limited experience of social services which was reflected in their reasoning. It was found that preschool teacher’s discretion is limited by their lack of knowledge and experience of mandatory reporting