Perceptions and Experiences of Former Unaccompanied Refugee Children and Social Workers at a Care Home in Sweden

This study was carried out to investigate the experiences of former unaccompanied refugee children and the perceptions of the social workers at a care home in SwedenMethod of investigation is qualitative, semi-structured interviewing. The sample consists of 3 formerly unaccompanied refugee children and2 social workers working at aHVB (Hem för vårdoch boende) home. The respondents areover18yearsold during the time of the interview but at the time they arrived in Sweden they were unaccompanied refugeechildren. The interviews focused on the time they spent in the care homes when they were still minors.Results from the interviews found that these children suffer fromlack ofcontact with their families,a long time waiting for the migration decision to get residence permit which causes distress, religions and culture problems in terms of lackofplaces of worship in thenearby area, lack of parentallove which cause the feeling of isolation and loneliness in the new environmentas well aslack of family connections and networks