Improvement work in child welfare services after regulatory supervision: a qualitative study of foster care follow-up in Norway

This study explores how Norwegian child welfare services engage in improvement efforts in response to noncompliance with legal requirements from the County Governors, following a nationwide regulatory supervision of foster-care follow‑up conducted in Norway during 2022–2023. Drawing on a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 15 child welfare professionals and additional document analysis for the understanding of context, this study explores how services respond and interpret supervisory findings, initiate organizational and structural change processes and navigate compelling demands. The results reveal both constraining and enabling drivers in the implementation of follow-up measures from the County Governors, highlighting the importance of leadership, professional discretion, understanding of context and institutional follow-up efforts. This study is likely the first to follow a nationwide regulatory supervision of child welfare in Norway and adds to research on accountability, quality improvement and guidance for regulatory inspectors at county and national level. This study shows how supervisory bodies can drive changes in work practices both by instigating change and by creating learning arenas in which staff navigate the complex emotions that arise during mandated improvement processes. While further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of regulatory improvement approaches, these findings underscore the importance of staff perceptions and process frameworks as key drivers of service quality for foster children and their families.