THE CASE WORKERS BEHINDE THE COERCION

The study aims to investigate the social worker's experiences of working with cases supported by LVU, with a focus on challenges and handling of these challenges. Furthermore, a rela-tional perspective was adopted to examine how social workers experience the relationship and alliance with the client in LVU cases. The study was performed within a qualitative, semi-structured interview format. The inter-views were conducted with social workers making decisions within matters regarding chil-dren and youths, with support from LVU. Five social workers from four different units in three central Swedish localities participated in the study. Thematic analysis utilizing previous research alongside the theoretical concept’s street-level bureaucracy, discretion, and alliance, was applied to analyze the collected material. The results showed a professional role characterized by complexity in the form of difficult assessments due to time restraints and limited discretion. Further affecting is the duality of making assessments and decisions concerning the lives of others, whilst establishing a neces-sary relation to succeed in the active client work. Furthermore, the results show that a rela-tional approach is also applicable in compulsory care matters