Use of Administrative Data for Management and Development of Norwegian Child Welfare Services

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.57067

Keywords:

administrative data, child welfare services, municipal differences, service quality improvement, Norway

Abstract

This study explores the utilization of administrative data by child welfare managers across various municipalities in Norway, focusing on the types of data used, methodologies employed, and the perceived strengths and weaknesses of these practices. A qualitative interview study was conducted with 16 leaders from eight different municipalities. Participants included chief municipal executives, heads of health and social services, and Child Welfare Services (CWS) managers. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews focusing on the management and use of administrative data in CWS. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes related to data use and its impact on services.  The study found diverse practices in the use of administrative data, with variations influenced by municipal size and resources. Larger municipalities tended to use data for strategic planning and quality improvement, while smaller municipalities focused on operational management and compliance. Strengths of data usage included enhanced monitoring, user-centred approaches, and systematic quality improvements. The findings highlight the potential of administrative data to improve CWS but underscore the need for better data management practices and capabilities, particularly in smaller municipalities. Enhancing data integration, investing in data quality, and developing targeted training programs for data analysis could improve the effectiveness of data-driven practices.

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Author Biographies

Svein Arild Vis, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway

Sven Arild Vis is Professor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, RKBU Nord. His research interests include systems and methods in child welfare work, mental health as a factor in child protection, decision-making and leadership, and processes for children’s participation.

Torill Moe, NTNU, RKBU Midt/Nord University, Norway

Torill Moe is Associate Professor at NTNU, RKBU Midt/Nord University. Her research interests include child welfare leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, decision-making in child welfare, professional judgment, and supervision of employees in child welfare.

Bodil Olsvik, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway

Bodil Olsvik is Associate Professor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Her research interests include management, child welfare leadership, knowledge work, change management, discretion and professional judgement, and institutional logics.

Heidi Linnerud, INN, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Heidi Linnerud is Assistant Professor at INN Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. Her research interests include child welfare, child protection, foster care, and child neglect as violence in close relations.

Gro Sannes, KS, The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities

Gro Sannes is Special Advisor at KS The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities. Her research interests include leadership in child welfare, systematic guidance, and professionalization of child welfare services.

Erik Skjeggestad, VID, Specialized University, Norway

Erik Skjeggestad is Associate Professor at VID Specialized University. His research interests include child protection services, professional communication, and user participation.

Marina Snipsøyr Sletten, Østfold University College, Norway

Marina Snipsøyr Sletten is Associate Professor at Østfold University College. Her research interests include child welfare, interprofessional collaboration, professional role and discretion, and standardization in child welfare practices.

Tone Strømolt, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, RKBU Nord

Tone Strømholt is Assistant Professor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, RKBU Nord. Her research interests include child welfare, decision-making processes, and professional practice in child welfare.

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Published

2026-06-09 — Updated on 2026-09-24

How to Cite

Vis, S. A., Moe, T., Olsvik, B., Linnerud, H., Sannes, G., Skjeggestad, E., … Strømolt, T. (2026). Use of Administrative Data for Management and Development of Norwegian Child Welfare Services. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 30(3), 37–54. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.57067

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 3 (2026)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Svein Arild Vis, Torill Moe, Bodil Olsvik, Heidi Linnerud, Gro Sannes, Erik Skjeggestad, Marina Snipsøyr Sletten, Tone Strømolt

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Authors contributing to Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration agree to publish their articles under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 license. This means means articles are free for anybody to read and download, and to copy and disseminate for non-commercial purposes as long as appropriate credit is given, a link is provided to the license, and any changes made are clearly indicated. Authors retain copyright of their work.

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