JAG HAR JU EN KOMPETENT PERSONALGRUPP MEN VI NÅR INTE MÅLET Hur handlingsutrymme, nya utmaningar i målgruppen och personalens kompetens påverkar första linjens chefer inom LSS- och SoL-boenden i Göteborgs Stad

Abstract

The Swedish law LSS (The law on support and service for certain disabled) includes the right of assisted housing for the target groups to which the law relates, and is regulated by the National Board of Health and Welfare. The regulations include formalized competence requirements when employed in such assisted housing. The aim of this study was to examine how first-line managers for assisted housing, that targets different kinds of disabilities, in the city of Gothenburg experience their discretion to control and influence resources in the form of competence of the employees in relation to the individual needs of the target group. The empirical base consisted of six semi-structured interviews with first-line managers employed in the Administration for disability support (Förvaltningen för funktionsstöd) in the city of Gothenburg that were analyzed from a theoretical perspective of neo-institutional theory, isomorphism, street-level bureaucracy and coordination theory. Results showed a significant increase in the complexity among the disability target group, where the formal competence requirements were perceived inadequate among the first line managers. Their discretion was limited mainly by budgetary constraints, but also by increased bureaucracy and administrative duties that were not perceived as aiming at support of the operating core of their operations.