“I just want them to feel safe, unfortunately, it’s not always as easy as it sounds” : - A qualitative study highlighting the experience of working in accommodations for unaccompanied refugee minors

Abstract: In the last couple of years there has been an immense increase in the number of unaccompa­nied refuge minors seeking asylum in Sweden. These minors share one thing in common; they have all abandoned things they hold dear in pursuit of a better life. The majority of them are placed into residential care homes, accommodations where they are aided and cared for by personnel. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research regarding how these personnel experience their work. With help of the method grounded theory and interviews, I investigate their working situation and their role in these homes. All participants agree that their primary role and task are to establish a feeling of safety amongst the minors, however, organizational aspects can hinder this process. Organizational aspects are also key factors that have to be adequate in order for the personnel to increase their professional knowledge. By including the framework resilience therapy and comparing this to my result, I put my study in a bigger context, suggesting that if the minors are capable of feeling safe, they will also develop skills that increase their wellbeing throughout their lives.