Talking to the child snappers : A qualitative study on social workers’ reflections around their communication with children who live in families with addiction problems

Abstract: This thesis aim was to investigate how social workers reflect around their communication with children who live with parents or guardians who have addiction problems. How the social workers manage to enable the child’s legally right to be heard in a decision-making process. What methods the social workers are using and what that is perceived as limitations and capabilities in the communication with children who live with parents with addiction problems. The method used in the study is qualitative with interviews. There were five interviews conducted with social workers within the same municipality. Theories for analysing were Family System theory and Attachment theory. Primarily the study has called for a deeper understanding of how complex social work and authority assessing is when related to children. This study reveals how difficult it is for social workers to enable for children to be heard about their situation without their parent’s permission and approval to communicate with the social worker. Importance was also emphasised and expressed on building and maintaining a trusting relationship with the child and stakeholders involved. In the municipality where the study took place they all stated that they are working according Swedish legislation and got training in and used the method Signs of Safety, which enables to get an image over the children's situation. Other methods for communicating with children were used different by different social worker due to different trainings, abilities and depending on the needs from the individual child.