Collaboration patterns among Swedish professionals in the repatriation of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children: an explorative study

Abstract

This study explores patterns of collaboration between Swedish professionals involved in the repatriation of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children. A qualitative case study methodology was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 20 statutory social workers, social workers at care homes, police officers, Swedish Migration Board officers, and legal guardians. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The results showed low levels of collaboration among the professionals and the use of different strategies by the professionals to manage their work tasks. Patterns were found among the professionals: some tended to isolate themselves from interaction and acted on the basis of personal preference, and others tended to behave sensitively, withdraw, and become passive observers rather than active partners in the repatriation process. These behaviours made it difficult for the relevant professionals to employ dignity and efficiency in the repatriation of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children.

Denna studie undersöker svenska aktörers samverkansmönster i arbetet med ensamkommande asylsökande flyktingbarn som ska återvända. Kvalitativ metod har använts. Semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts med totalt tjugo socialsekreterare som arbetar med ensamkommande flyktingbarn, personal vid hem för vård och boende, poliser, handläggare på Migrationsverket och gode män. En tematisk analysmetod har använts. Resultatet visade låg nivå av samverkan mellan aktörerna och att de använde sig av olika strategier för att hantera sina arbetsuppgifter. Varierande samverkansmönster kunde ses: vissa tenderade att isolera sig från att interagera med andra aktörer och agerade utifrån personliga preferenser, andra tenderade att bete sig känslomässigt, dra sig undan och bli passiva observatörer snarare än aktiva deltagare i återvändandeprocessen. Dessa beteenden gjorde det svårt för aktörerna att både praktisera ett värdigt och effektivt arbete gällande de ensamkommande asylsökande flyktingbarnen som skulle återvända.

Keywords:

• collaboration
• Sweden
• repatriation
• unaccompanied children
• refugee children

Sökord:

• samverkan
• Sverige
• repatriering
• ensamkommande barn
• flyktingbarn

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Johanna Sundqvist is a Ph.D. student at Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health Unit at Umeå University. She is also involved in projects within Basic Training Programme for Police Officers. She has a Bachelor degree in Social work and have been working with vulnerable adolescents for 10 years.

Kenneth Ögren is a Senior lecturer at the Department of Social Work, Umeå University. He has a Bachelor degree in Social work and is a Phd in medical science. His thesis deals with the history of psychosurgery in Sweden 1947 to 1958 with special respect to lobotomy performed at a State Mental Hospital in northern Sweden.

Mojgan Padyab is a Statistician, MPH, and researcher at Department of Social Work, Umeå University. She obtained her doctorate in Social work from Umeå University with research about client violence toward Iranian Social Workers.

Mehdi Ghazinour is Professor of Social Work, licensed psychotherapist and clinical supervisor. He is also Director of the Research Program for Basic Training Programme for Police Officers at Umeå University. He obtained his doctorate on stress, trauma and resilience in Medical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Umeå University.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Return Fund [grant number R16-209-1-01].