"Children perceive in one way, though it may be another" : A qualitative study of social services perceptions and work with physically abused children.

The aim of the study was to examine what workers in social services considers physical child abuse and in which way social services work with children who have been exposed to physical child abuse. The study also examines which interventions are available and how physically abused children assimilate these. I've interviewed four child-welfare officers and for those interviews I've used the qualitative semi-structured method. The results shows that all my respondents have different views on on the definition of physical child abuse. The result also shows that the municipality which the children belongs to plays a major role in which children can get help with their problems. Noticeably, it is also a fact that the children have a big responsibility to express in which way they have been beaten and by. The result shows that the children’s expressions can either help or disfavor them in how they will receive assistance from social services. An issue among the socialworkers who participated in his study seems to be the discrepancy between practice and theory. My study shows that different views of on the same problems can create uncertainties regarding the means of helping children in Sweden