Komplexa utmaningar kräver samlade krafter : En intervjustudie om samverkan kring högstadieelever med långvarig problematisk skolfrånvaro

The number of students with long-term problematic school absence is increasing and should be seen as a serious social problem. The purpose of the study was to investigate the views of school counselors and social workers on how the collaboration between schools and social services works around students in high school with long-term problematic school absence, but also how the respondents view these students and what works well or hinders collaboration between the professions. Finally, it was investigated whether there was a need for improvements linked to the work with school absenteeism and the collaboration work around the group. The study was conducted using a qualitative method and the empirical material is based on semi-structured interviews with three school counselors and three social workers. The results were analyzed using thematic analysis, previous research and two theories: samverkansteori and systemteori. The study shows that there is collaboration between the organizations around the children and that there are several success factors and obstacles. Conditions for good collaboration were described as working with combined forces, relational work, understanding each other, clear roles and working with the pupil's system. Barriers identified were lack of resources, not having parents with them, confidentiality and unrealistic expectations. The interviewees had many wishes for improvement; more resources, different interventions, teams for collaboration and more preventive work.