"Som politiker ska man vara noga med att inte lägga sig i"- Om politisk påverkan i socialt arbete

This study is about the perception of politics in social work. The aim of the study was to seehow people working with social work in municipalities describe their perception of how politicsaffect their work. The study was conducted in two municipalities in middle Sweden,which had a transfer of power in the 2006 election. Six people; two social workers, two executivedirectors and two politicians was interviewed about their perceptions about politics, ifthe ideological direction of the municipal matters, and how politics effect social work and theorganization. As analyze method organizational theory with focus on change and power wereused. Themes that came up during the interviews were goals, resources, participation and importanceof politics. The results indicate that politics seem to matter more on a national levelas of setting the guidelines and laws for social work. In municipalities it seems more a matterof person rather than party. The interviewees did not agree on the topic on who sets the goalsfor the organization. All interviewees said that economic resources are the main limitation foraccomplishing change through politics. As a conclusion it seems to matter more on professionand person rather than party politics when it comes to social work.This study is about the perception of politics in social work. The aim of the study was to seehow people working with social work in municipalities describe their perception of how politicsaffect their work. The study was conducted in two municipalities in middle Sweden,which had a transfer of power in the 2006 election. Six people; two social workers, two executivedirectors and two politicians was interviewed about their perceptions about politics, ifthe ideological direction of the municipal matters, and how politics effect social work and theorganization. As analyze method organizational theory with focus on change and power wereused. Themes that came up during the interviews were goals, resources, participation and importanceof politics. The results indicate that politics seem to matter more on a national levelas of setting the guidelines and laws for social work. In municipalities it seems more a matterof person rather than party. The interviewees did not agree on the topic on who sets the goalsfor the organization. All interviewees said that economic resources are the main limitation foraccomplishing change through politics. As a conclusion it seems to matter more on professionand person rather than party politics when it comes to social work