Mid Sweden University

The aim of this study was to investigate social workers experiences about collaboration with the police in domestic violence issues. About how social workers felt about abilities to improve collaboration in their work. The empirical data consists of qualitative interviews with 11 social workers within the social services in Sweden. In Härnösand, Sundsvall, Gustavsberg och Malmö. The social workers recognized theoretical benefits with collaboration. The social workers also recognized major dificulties in their practice. The practical dificulties caused feelings of frustration, dissatisfaction and insufficency among the social workers. They showed major pessimism about their current work situation. Nevertheless they expressed good-will in their work. All social workers expressed that improvements were necessary. The results of the interviews were analyzed using qualitative content-analysis, and the new institutional theory of organization. The conclusions of the study are: The dificulties were mainly caused by circumstances within the social services organisation rather than between the social services and the police.