行政・教育機関との連携における児童養護施設職員の語り : 自らの役割についての意味づけと実践上の葛藤

Abstract

This qualitative study was performed to examine residential child care workers' interpretations of their roles in collaboration with child welfare centers and children's schools, and to examine workers' difficulties in cooperation with other agencies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 8 Children's home workers. The data showed that workers feel that their role is to act as mediators of social resources and the child, and that it is their responsibility to ensure soft and flexible communication between social resources compared with social workers or teachers. The workers are skilled in supporting children in their transitions between different settings and services. On the other hand, workers sometimes feel a lack of shared information and tension between other agencies. In such situations, they draw lines of their responsibilities on child protection and try to exclude communication with other agencies. Collaboration with other agencies requires that workers build a foundation of close communication with others and can work effectively across boundaries to support children.