Ett lagligt kryphål? En kvalitativ studie om socialsekreterares erfarenheter av social dumpning.

Social dumping may be perceived as the active involvement of social services in the involuntary relocation of clients with complex social problems and long-term support needs to another municipality. This study used a qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews, allowing flexibility to explore relevant themes and gain insights into social dumping from the perspective of social workers. The phenomenon has serious consequences for those affected, including social isolation, housing segregation, poor living conditions, integration difficulties, limited ability to influence their own lives, increased segregation, and challenges in identifying support needs among vulnerable individuals. Although not the study’s primary focus, findings also showed that receiving municipalities face increased pressure through higher financial costs (e.g., economic and other support) and heavier workloads for social workers. To counteract social dumping, the study proposes changes to national legislation and a clearer division of responsibilities between municipalities, based on a humanistic view of the individual.