School social workers’ practice-choices in low-performing schools with many underprivileged children

Malin Johansson; Nina Veetnisha Gunnarsson; Disa Bergnehr

doi:10.1921/jpts20252543

Authors

Malin Johansson Lecturer and PhD Student, Jönköping University https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3858-4973
Nina Veetnisha Gunnarsson Associate professor in Social Work. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8948-1055
Disa Bergnehr Professor of Education https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6357-6491

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts20252543

Keywords:

School counsellor, school health services, low socioeconomic status areas, Sweden

Abstract

School social work is established around the globe, but the organisation and services differ depending on national regulations and local priorities. This study is set in Sweden, where the school social worker works in a decentralised educational system and is responsible for hundreds of children, which requires them to make choices about the services they can offer. The present study explores the practice choices that appear in semi-structured interviews with counsellors who work in low-performing schools with many underprivileged children. It illustrates dilemmas and creativity, and it calls for reflection on the part of practitioners and policymakers.

Author Biographies

Malin Johansson, Lecturer and PhD Student, Jönköping University

Malin Johansson is a trained social worker from Sweden with experience from social welfare and school social work with students age 6 up to University level. Presently Malin is lecturing at Jönköping University part time, together with PhD-studies where she is working on a project about the mission of the school social worker active in schools with low grades. Besides this, Malin enjoys training and spending time in the nature.

Nina Veetnisha Gunnarsson, Associate professor in Social Work.

Nina Veetnisha Gunnarsson is an Associate professor in Social Work. The focus of her research is on self-injury, mental health and illness. Her work is embedded in the perspectives of social psychology, especially symbolic interactionism and the sociology of emotion.

Disa Bergnehr, Professor of Education

Disa Bergnehr is a Professor of Education. Her main research interests are school health services, representations of single parenthood, resettlement strategies of immigrant parents and youth, family policies, and children's and parents’ health, well-being and learning.

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School social workers’ practice-choices in low-performing schools with many underprivileged children

Authors

DOI:

Keywords:

Abstract

Author Biographies

Malin Johansson, Lecturer and PhD Student, Jönköping University

Nina Veetnisha Gunnarsson, Associate professor in Social Work.

Disa Bergnehr, Professor of Education

References

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