”Man får inte ta någon genväg in i konsultarbetet”

En studie om privata konsulters som genomför barnavårdutredningar inom svenska social förvaltningar

Abstract

“You must not take any shortcuts into consulting work”. A study of private consultants who carry out child protection investigations at Swedish social services.
The article deepens the knowledge of the private consultant’s way into the work as a consultant, the time as a consultant and the way out towards other assignments. The result shows that the way in and the way out, based on a time-geographical perspective, rest on the same restrictions, which are lack of power and influence and demands for coordination. A desire for freedom can be added, which then turns into a longing for safe employment conditions. For the study’s respondents, the time as a consultant became something temporary, and it is important that it becomes so also for social administrations. However, there is a risk that it will be a permanent solution to difficult situations.