Barnets bästa eller organisationens bästa? : En kvalitativ studie om uppföljningen av elever efter en orosanmälan.

The purpose of the study was to investigate school counselor’s reasoning’s about collaborations with social services regarding children who have been subjects to a report of concern from their schools. Children’s needs for support and help from the school is not limited to merely before a report of concern is made but also after. Therefore, it has been of interest to investigate what is done to ensure that these students receive the support that is needed after the report of concern has been made. The study a¬lso discusses school counselor’s professional role and the possible effects on the children when collaborations with social services are inadequate. The method chosen for ¬this study was qualitative interviews with five school counselors from five different schools and areas in Malmö city. In analyzing the results, theories about inter-organizational collaborations, discretion and organizational metaphors have been applied. The study found that school counselors perceive that the collaboration with social services is faulty and that it is not always for the best interest of the child. Counselors use their discretion to ensure that a follow-up is done with the students whom have been subjects to a report of concern. The study also showed that collaboration between the school and social services depends on the individual social workers.