”One should be aware of the power one has” : A study of social workers' views on power and power relations in social services in relation to the professional role

Syftet med studien var att med utgångspunkt i socialarbetares erfarenheter undersöka synen på och medvetenhet om makt i form av maktutövning och maktrelationer gentemot klienter. Vidare undersöktes om detta skiljer sig beroende på om socialarbetaren har en myndighetsutövande eller en behandlande roll och vilka arbetsuppgifter de utför. En kvalitativ metod i form av intervjuer användes. Totalt fyra yrkesverksamma socialarbetare intervjuades, två myndighetsutövare och två behandlare. Som teoretisk referensram användes begreppen frikoppling och sammankoppling samt en maktförhållande matris, vilket möjliggjorde att analysera maktrelationerna utifrån både mikro- och makronivå. Tillsammans med tidigare forskning användes de teoretiska perspektiven för att analysera studiens resultat. Resultatet visade att socialarbetarna hade olika uppfattningar om makt och den maktrelation som uppstår mellan dem och klienterna oberoende av deras yrkesroller. Exempelvis utgjorde lagstiftning en mer väsentlig del av myndighetsutövarnas arbete än behandlarnas arbete. Denna konkreta skillnad i de respektive yrkesrollerna antyder att maktpositionen i förhållande till klienten var tydligare i det myndighetsutövande arbetet än i behandling. Till skillnad från de myndighetsutövande socialarbetarna behövde de behandlande socialarbetarna inte förmedla svåra besked eller beslut till klienterna. Myndighetsutövarna har även med sin beslutsrätt i det dagliga arbetet mer makt-över, medan behandlarna utifrån sitt nära arbete med klienterna har mer makt-tillsammans.The purpose of the study was to, based on the experiences of social workers, examine the view of and awareness of power in the form of exercise of power and power relations towards clients. It was further investigated whether this differs depending on whether the social worker has an executive or a therapeutic role and which tasks they performs. A qualitative method in the form of interviews was used. A total of four professional social workers were interviewed, two authorities and two therapists. Disconnecting and interconnecting, as well as the Matrix of power relations were used as a theoretical frame of reference, which made it possible to analyze the power relations from both micro and macro level. Together with previous research, the theoretical perspectives were used to analyze the results of the study. The result showed that social workers had various perceptions of power and the power relationship that arises between them and the clients, regardless of their professional roles. Legislation was a more significant part of the work of the authorities than the work of the therapists. This difference in the respective professional roles suggests that the position of power in relation to the client was clearer in the administrative work than in treatment. Unlike the authorities, the therapists did not have to convey difficult decisions to the clients. The authorities also have more power-over with their decision-making power in the daily work, while the therapists, based on their close work with the clients, have more power-together