Collaboration between school and social services. : The professionals’ perspectives.

The purpose of this study is to understand the collaboration between school and social services. The primary focus of this study is the subject of interaction. The study analyzes how confidentiality affects collaboration between school and social services and examines what effect the organizations’ different roles have on collaboration. The method used is qualitative interviews and the gathered empirical data has been analyzed using theories of discretion and street-level bureaucracy. Eight professionals have been interviewed; four social workers from social services and four teachers. All participants agreed that collaboration is necessary between schools and social services but there is a mutual lack of knowledge about each other's organizations. The study concludes that because of the organizations' differing tasks, it is difficult for them to know who should take responsibility in their interaction. There are some methods that facilitate achieving good interaction