“Some cry, others can’t get through the door fast enough.” : A qualitative interview study about care workers in HVB-homes experience of work with youth ahead of transitioning from institutional care to an independent life

This study aims to analyze institutional care worker’s perceived experience of how the Swedish institution Home for Care or Residence (HVB-home) provides the youth with support in the process of transition from institutional care to an independent adult life in society. This qualitative study’s empirical data were collected by using semi-structured interviews. Previous research in this study shows that the target group of youth leaving institutional care are at higher risk of ending up in socially vulnerable groups such as unemployment and homelessness. Research also shows that care workers play a big role in helping youth develop necessary social skills needed in adult life. It has been identified that the relationship between the care workers and the youth can be complicated because of the double roles that the workers take on in the youth’s lives. The workers have to play a professional role in encouraging independence as well as building and attaining a friendly relationship built on collaboration in reaching the assigned goals. This study also researches the interventions available for youth leaving institutional care in Sweden to pursue an independent life. This study acknowledges that there are challenges for both care workers and youth in the preparation for the transition from institutional care to adult life.