Do the “Right Thing” or the “Safe Thing”? Social Workers’ Dilemma When Supporting Youth in Local Communities Affected by Criminals

This study focuses on how professionals in the social services aim to support the children and youth living in a neighborhood defined by the Swedish police as a vulnerable area. The data in this paper is taken from a meeting with social workers working with youth in an area classified by the police as vulnerable. The result reveals how the decisions social workers make can be interpreted to be to act in the best interest of the residents. Further, the result reveals that there are contractional principles at stake. The social workers describe how they cannot always follow laws and directives without the risk of exposing both themselves and the residents to reprisals from criminals. This is discussed as a dilemma, as the residents’ risk of being exposed to violence and threats depends on the decisions made by social workers.