När klientnära ansvar möter styrningen : En kvalitativ studie om socialsekreterares upplevelser om klient nära möte inom socialt arbete under NPM i Växjö kommun Mellan effektivitet och mänsklighet Socialt arbete under NPM i Växjö kommun

This study explores how governance logics inspired by New Public Management (NPM) have affected the work of social workers within financial assistance services in Växjö Municipality, Sweden. Based on qualitative interviews with current and former social workers, the study analyzes how changing organizational conditions have reshaped professional discretion and the capacity for relational social work. The findings indicate that client contact has become increasingly fragmented, professional judgment is increasingly constrained by administrative systems, and digitalization is perceived both as a support and a source of strain. At the same time, various coping strategies are identified, highlighting how professional identity is negotiated in a tension between ethics, efficiency, and control. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how social work is influenced by contemporary governance ideals and underscores the need for organizational conditions that support sustainable professional discretion.