This dissertation in social work examines the intersection of law and practice within children’s residential care. It focuses on how regulatory frameworks and inspection practices are enacted and interpreted in the everyday work and life of residential homes. Rather than treating law as a static set of rules, the study situates legality supervision within the lived realities of care work, exploring how legal norms intersect with organisational routines, professional judgement and the complexities of child welfare and institutional care.
Background
Internationally, abusive and unlawful practices in residential care have been identified as among the most typical violations of children’s rights in child welfare. In response, efforts to improve the compliance with legal regulation have intensified through increased supervision and the development of inspection practices aimed at preventing, identifying and addressing ‘deficiencies’ in care. Simultaneously, professionals working in residential homes face practical challenges in fulfilling their institutional mandate to protect children, often navigating legislation perceived as vague and abstract in relation to the complex nature of residential care work.
Goal
The aim of this study is to deepen the understanding of how law operates in practice within child welfare by examining the dynamics at the interface of regulation and care. It seeks to illuminate how supervisory mechanisms and professional discretion interact, and what this reveals about accountability, rights realisation and governance of residential care.
Funding source
The Foundation for Municipal Development, Olvi Foundation, Finnish Cultural Foundation