Emotional and relational dynamics in child-focused social work: social workers’ subject positions in encounters with children’s grief

This article examines the subject positions taken by or given to social workers when working with a grieving child. The research data were based on five group interviews with Finnish public-sector social workers (N = 17) collected in January–June 2022. The data were analysed through subject-positional analysis that identified four subject positions representing the social workers’ actions in dealing with a child experiencing grief and the consequences of these actions. The positions of service system navigator, visibility enabler, listener, and referrer make visible the social workers’ actions and their concrete consequences for the bereaved child. They highlight not only the important role of social work in identifying children’s emotions, but also the effect of confusing work practices on children’s access to help.