A multi-actor approach to relational conditions of structural disability social work in Finland
Mari Kivistö, Merja Tarvainen, Oona Lipponen, Marjatta Martin, Jari Lindh
This study investigates the conditions of structural disability social work in newly formed wellbeing services counties in Finland. The study was anchored in a multi-actor approach informed by relationality. The data comprised social workers’ (n = 18) focus group interviews. The research question was as follows: What do social workers consider as needed conditions for conducting structural disability social work in the wellbeing services counties? Through applying qualitative thematic analysis, social workers’ perceptions regarding the strengths and developmental needs of structural disability social work were analysed as needed conditions. The social workers referred to both internal and external conditions related to various actors and their relationships. Internal conditions focused on the main actors of disability social work, while external conditions regarded key stakeholders. The findings illustrated relational conditions for collaborative structural disability social work, which is not yet realised in the wellbeing services counties, but is desired from the social workers’ perspective. The study highlights the importance of relational bindings and co-acts for the promotion of structural disability social work.
Keywords
Disability, Structural social work, Knowledge work, Multi-actor approach.
