Abstract
Summary Children of social service users are at risk for developing mental health problems as well as social and behavioral problems. Social service counselors should therefore be aware of service users’ children and provide support for them. In fact, they are obligated by law to consider children's views and their best interests in cases affecting them. Despite this, little is known about social service counselors’ child focus in their practice. In this study, self-reported survey data from 93 counselors working for the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV) were analyzed to explore their child focus. Findings Findings suggest that a particular focus on children is no part of common practice among NAV counselors; nor is use or knowledge of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Knowledge and use of the CRC may be a predictor of child-focused practice. The results showed a significant difference of medium effect size between NAV counselors who ask about children and NAV counselors who do not when it comes to knowledge and use of the CRC. Applications Policy makers and practitioners should utilize NAV's potential as a preventive arena. For NAV counselors to be aware of and support children of social service users they need a stronger focus on children and hence know and use the laws concerning children's rights. Incorporating children's rights into social workers’ education and internal training may strengthen the focus on children in NAV counselors’ practice.
Highlights
The Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV) administers the social welfare system in Norway
This study explored the practice of NAV counselors in terms of having a child focus in their social work practice
The overall purpose of this study was to explore the current social work practice among NAV counselors when it comes to having a child focus
Summary
The Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV) administers the social welfare system in Norway. NAV manages and provides schemes such as unemployment benefits, work assessment allowance, sickness benefits, pensions, child benefits and cash-for-care benefits (Arbeids og velferdsetaten, 2019). Work assessment allowance and disability benefits are provided to social service users who cannot work, or are temporarily without work, due to health issues. Economic benefits support social service users who are not able to provide for themselves through employment, own funds or other economic benefits. Counselors have a bachelor or a master’s degree in social work, child welfare, social science, pedagogic, economics, or law (NAV, 2019c). Counselors administer the schemes and guide users who have difficulties regarding labor, need financial assistance, or public housing (Arbeids og velferdsetaten, 2019)
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