Supervision as control system

The design of supervision as a regulatory instrument in the social services sector in Sweden

Authors

  • Eva Hämberg School of Health and Society, Dalarna University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v17i3.15730

Keywords:

Supervision, Regulatory instrument, Social services, Control systems, Oversight

Abstract

In this article, the prevailing official view of supervision as a regulatory instrument is examined as it applies to the social services sector in Sweden. The study is based on a comparison of the views expressed on the design of supervision as a regulatory instrument by two government commissions, the Supervision Commission and the Commission on Supervision within the Social Services (UTIS), and on the positions taken by the Government regarding the definitions of the concept of supervision proposed by these commissions. The view of supervision as a regulatory instrument expressed in these policy documents is analysed with the help of a theoretical framework describing the components, their functions and the governance characteristics of control systems. In the framework separate interrelated characteristics of the components are identified and summarized into two models of control systems. The analysis shows that supervision in the Swedish social services sector can be described in terms of both a disciplinary and non-disciplinary system. By its system theoretical basis and the identification of interrelated characteristics the study contributes to a broadened understanding of the construction and functions of supervision as a regulatory instrument and of how supervision within the Swedish social sector is meant to be designed.

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Author Biography

Eva Hämberg, School of Health and Society, Dalarna University

Eva Hämberg is a doctoral student in Social Work at Örebro University and a lecturer of Social Work at Dalarna University. This article is part of the research project Supervision in theory and practice – Effects, obstacles, and possibilities in state regulation of the social services’ of adults, children and families. The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte) and Dalarna University.

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Published

2013-09-15

How to Cite

Hämberg, E. (2013). Supervision as control system: The design of supervision as a regulatory instrument in the social services sector in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 17(3), 45–64. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v17i3.15730

Issue

Section

Original Articles