Vem gör vad? - En kvalitativ studie om socialtjänstens och kvinnojourens ansvar i arbetet med att stödja våldsutsatta kvinnor

The aim of this study was to examine social workers and staff at women’s shelters experience of how the responsibility for abused women is distributed between them through collaboration. The study relies on eight qualitative, semi structured interviews with professionals, whom play a significant role in supporting abused woman, in two different municipalities in southern Sweden. In order to analyze our collected empirical data we used new institutional theory and concepts associated to the theoretical frame. The main results of this study showed that both social workers and staff at women’s shelters are unanimous of the fact that the social services is ultimately responsible for supporting abused women and that collaboration is evident when it comes to women’s need for sheltered housing. Although the social services have a statutory claim to assure that abused women receive the help and support they are in need of women’s shelters’ role as public welfare service providers seem to have increased