Den dubbla utsatthetens logik - Socialsekreterares upplevelser på ekonomiskt bistånd av att arbeta med klienter som har psykisk ohälsa

Sammanfattning

The purpose of this study was to understand how social workers in financial assistance perceive and support clients with mental illness and poverty. To answer the purpose of our study, we collected data using a qualitative methodology involving six social workers in financial assistance. The empirical data were examined through thematic analysis, where recurring patterns were identified. Our two theoretical frameworks used are Michael Lipsky's theory about Street-level bureaucracy (1980/2010) and Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (2013/1943). The results showed that the social workers described a clear link between mental illness and poverty among the clients they met. They noted that if mental health illness were not identified in financial assistance work, there was a risk that the client’s condition could worsen over time. The results also indicated that social workers used different strategies when working with clients who had mental illness, and they held varying views on which approaches were best suited to these clients, such as being a counselor. The study also found that some social workers were positive about increased activity requirements, describing it as a way to support and strengthen clients’ mental well-being. Others were critical of stricter activity requirements, arguing that such requirements could worsen mental health because the focus wasn’t on the rehabilitation of mental health.