Value Destruction in Swedish Welfare Services : Frontline Workers’ Impact on Asylum-Seeking Minors’ Possibilities of Creating Value in Early Integration

Summary, in English

The aim of this article is to investigate ways in which welfare frontline workers’ conceptualization of Swedishness destroys asylum-seeking minors’ (16–17 years) possibilities of creating value during the service process in early integration. Focus group interviews and in-depth interviews were conducted with coaches at accommodation centres, schoolteachers and social workers. The analytical approach employed makes use of a service logic perspective. The findings indicate that the frontline workers contribute to destructed value in three ways through: (1) conditions, (2) limitations and (3) contradictions in their interacation with the minors. All in all, during these asymmetrical service situations, it is significant to understand the importance of frontline workers being given the opportunity by management to increase their own awareness of how their professional work impact upon a minor’s possibilities of creating value.

• Author: Malin Espersson; Ulrika Westrup
• Department/s: Department of Service Studies
• Publishing year: 2019-10-08
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: International Journal of Public Administration
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 2
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2019.1672729
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Topic: International Migration and Ethnic Relations
• Keywords: welfare services; value destruction; frontline workers; unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors; conceptualization of Swedishness
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0190-0692