Practitioners exploring intertwined challenges and possible solutions for user participation in social services

Figures & data

Table 1. Participating units and practitioners.

Workshop	Total no. of practitioners*	No. of participants in workshop
WS 1: Support for young adults (SA) + Quality and development (all PSS domains) (Vägval Vuxen + kvalitetsenheten)	15 + 4	18
WS 2: Social assistance (SA) (ekonomiskt bistånd)	21	12
WS 3: Child and family prevention and treatment (CW) (Förebyggande och behandling)	22	20
WS 4: Substance abuse treatment (SAT) (Beroendeenheten)	16	16
WS 5: Child protection investigations (CW) (Utredningsenheten Barn och Unga)	24	21
WS 6: Foster care (CW) (Placeringsenheten Barn och Unga)	18	8
Total no. of practitioners	120	95

*In each workshop, both managerial staff and frontline workers participated in the workshop covering their unit.

Table 2. Obstacles and solutions for user participation.

Obstacles	Solutions
Organizational limitations Laws and regulations Inaccessibility Resources (time, staff) Lack of routines Management (guidance)	A supportive infrastructure Structural suggestions (changing laws, economy) Organizational resources (work load, routines, cooperation) Leadership and clarification of responsibilities (guidance, systemization, expertise)
Practitioners attitudes Lack of consensus on user influence and participation User participation is not a part of regular work Collaboration within and between units	Practitioners commitment Discuss and develop common ground of user participation Practitioners need to focus on users Commitment and trust from users
Users attitudes and abilities Health condition, functional capacity, communication Motivational issues Users attitude that they themselves know best	Availability Flexible opening hours and establishment of citizen office Describe the organization of and processes within personal social services Clear and adaptive communication