Service user participation in interprofessional teams in child welfare in Norway: vulnerable adolescents' perceptions

Children's participation has been a requirement in the Norwegian child welfare system for decades and children's effective participation has the potential to benefit children's outcomes. However, research suggests that effective user participation is still relatively rare and that user participation is seen as 'difficult' by both service users and professionals. One way to ensure children's rights to participation in Norway is to include adolescent service users in the interprofessional team formed around the child. Knowledge about experiences of adolescents in this kind of participation may provide important insights. This study explores five adolescents' perceptions about participating in such teams. Qualitative interviews and qualitative content analysis was used. We found that adolescents' participation in interprofessional teams may constitute one way to achieve effective participation. Both facilitating factors and impediments to effective user participation were found. The study suggests new ways to facilitate positive circles of participation and to increase the likelihood of improved child welfare outcomes from processes which secure more effective interprofessional help and support.