"Then it is up to me to pick up the broken fragments of this person, whose life may be ruined because of this decision" : Street-level bureaucrats perspectives on layperson decision making models regarding children in out-of-home care

The aim of this study was to give street-level bureaucrats in out of home placements in child protection the opportunity to give their perspective on the Swedish layperson model regarding child protection. Previous research lacks the perspective of street-level bureaucrats in child protection and more specifically lay person models hence the choice of topic for our essay. This study was based on qualitative content analysis. We carried out seven interviews with street level bureaucrats, more specifically social welfare secretaries working with child protection and out of home placements. The result was analysed through two theories which were Michael Lipsky’s theory about street-level bureaucrats and discretion, and Michel Foucault’s theory regarding power. In the analysis we found several themes: education, power, hybrid models, discretion, economy, and political views to name a few. The analysis showed that many street-level bureaucrats want more educated laypersons in child protection committees or hybrid models to ensure that decisions regarding out of home placements are taken by people with adequate knowledge and education in the chosen matter.