SEPARATED AND UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN PLACED IN CARE - Perspectives and experiences of Professionals working in Sweden

Abstract

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency nearly half of the thirty four million people registered as refugees are children. In 2012, Sweden received 2915 separated and unaccompanied asylum seeking children, the highest number ever registered in the Country; and by the end of August 2013, there were already 1958 new applications. This research has been developed in order to understand and acknowledge the situation of separated and unaccompanied children in Sweden using the perspectives and experiences of Professionals working in the field, with a special focus in Västra Götaland and Göteborg regions. For this purpose a qualitative research has been conducted and 25 semi-structured interviews were followed with Professionals working in this field. Hence, five main research questions have been formulated:  How do Professional’s perceive separated and unaccompanied children and their needs?  How do Professional’s perceive care provided to separated and unaccompanied children?  Which are Professional’s considerations regarding separated and unaccompanied children’s integration in the society?  Which challenges Professional’s identify, commonly, when working with separated and unaccompanied children?  Are principles such as ‘participation in decision-making’ and ‘best interest of the child’ being taken into consideration? From the findings of this research it is possible to highlight the challenges that Professionals face within this field of practice: structural challenges and individual challenges, such as: the differences and challenges of care provided; resilience and structural barriers which influence the child’s social inclusion and integration; the vulnerable circumstances of children under the Dublin regulation; family reunification and its implications in the child’s responsibilities; and the enforcement of principles such as ‘best interest of the child’ and ‘participation in decision-making’. Finally, this research provides an examination of the situation of separated and unaccompanied children placed in care, identifying the inconsistencies that exist within the care provided and their needs. Thus, this research aims to provide recommendations for practice based on Professionals understandings from challenges identified.