Personal assistants: Ideals of social care‐work and consequences for the Norwegian personal assistance scheme

Ingrid Guldvik

doi:10.1080/15017410309512618

Original Articles

Personal assistants: Ideals of social care‐work and consequences for the Norwegian personal assistance scheme

Author:

Ingrid Guldvik

Eastern Norway Research Institute, Lillehammer

About Ingrid

Ingrid Guldvik is a researcher at Eastern Norway Research Institute in Lillehammer. She is currently a Ph.D student, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.

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Abstract

Ideal models of care change over time. In the case of personal assistance services, the major actors are influenced by different ideals of social care work. This article is based on a survey among personal assistants in Norway, with a central finding that assistants emphasise, to various degrees, the ideal of caring rationality or a service orientation model The personal assistance scheme has many inbuilt dilemmas, such as user‐control in contrast to co‐determination of assistants, as well as continuity of help in contrast to continuity of relations. This article discusses whether matching assistants and users with mutual interests and similar expectations can help to reduce the inbuilt systemic dilemmas.

How to Cite: Guldvik, I., (2009). Personal assistants: Ideals of social care‐work and consequences for the Norwegian personal assistance scheme. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research. 5(2), pp.122–139. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/15017410309512618

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Published on 08 Jul 2009

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CC BY 4.0

References

Andersen , J (2001). . . Brukerstyrt personlig assistanse fra forsøk til lov (User controlled personal assistance from experiment to law). , Høgskolen i Lillehammer, rapport nr. 78/2001, rapport Østlandsforskning nr. 07/2001[city: Lillehammer]: : HIL. .
Askheim , OP (1998). . . Omsorgspolitiske endringer ‐ profesjonelle utfordringer. (Care policy changes ‐ professional challenges). , [city: Oslo]: : Ad Notam Gyldendal. .
Askheim , OP (2001a). . . Personlig assistanse for funksjonshemmede i Norden. En samtnenliknende Studie av ordningen i Danmark, Finland, Sverige og Norge (Personal assistance for disabled people in the Nordic countries. A comparative study of the scheme in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway). , Forskningsrapport nr. 61/2001 Høgskolen i Lillehammer, rapport 01/2001 Østlandsforskning[city: Lillehammer]: : HIL. .
Askheim , OP (2001b). . . Når styringsevnen er begrenset. Brukerstyrt personlig assistanse og psykisk utviklingshemmede (When work management ability is limited. User controlled personal assistance and mentally disabled people). , Forskningsrapport nr 87/2001Høgskolen i Lillehammer. .
Askheim , OP and Guldvik , I (1999). . . Fra lydighet til lederskap? Om brukerstyrt personlig assistanse (From obedience to management? On user controlled personal assistance). , [city: Oslo]: : Tano Aschehoug. .
Bjørvik , KI (1987). . . Arbeids o g lederpsykologi (Work and management psychology). , Bedriftsøkonomens forlag (1. utgave. . 1973.
Caruso , G (). . Conflicts over Choice, Rights and Responsibilities For People With Disabilities. . Paper presented at The Second International SRV Conference. . 1st‐4th, , [city: Boston], USA.
Christensen , K and Syltevik , LJ (1999). . . “Omsorg, underordning og sosialpolitikk ‐ en introduksjon til Kari Wærness’ sosiologi (Care, subordination and social politics ‐ an introduction to Kari Wærness’ sociology). ”. In Omsorgens forvitring? Antologi om utfordringer i velferdsstaten. (The crumble of care? An anthology on the challenges of the welfare state). , Edited by: Christensen , K and Syltevik , LJ . [city: Bergen]: : Fagbokforlaget. .
DeJong , G (1983). . . “Defining and Implementing the Independent Living Concept. ”. In Independent Living for Physically Disabled People. , Edited by: Crewe , NM and Zola , IK . [city: San Francisco]: : Jossey‐Bass Publishers. .
Gough , R (1994). . . Personlig assistans ‐ en sosial bemästringsstrategi (Personal assistance ‐ a social mastering strategy), [city: Göteborg]:
Gough , R and Modig , M (1996). . . Leva med personlig assistans (Living with personal assistance). , [city: Stockholm]: : Liber utbildning. .
Guldvik , I (2001). . . Me Horn brukerstyring o g medbestemmelse — Å jobbe som personlig assistent (Between user control and co‐determination ‐ Working as a personal assistant), , ØF‐rapport nr. 04/2001
Holth , AF (1996). . . Mestring og kontroli En teoretisk og empirisk belysning av brukerstyrt personlig assistanse. (Mastering and control. A theoretical and empirical study of user controlled personal assistance). , Hovedoppgave i psykologi, Universitetet i Oslo. .
Hugemark , A and Wahlström , K (1999). . Conceptions of Personal Assistance: What Shall Be Done and Why?. . Paper presented at Nordic Network on Disability Research, (NNDR) conference. . September1999, , [city: Trondheim], Norway.
Hugemark , A and Wahlström , K (2002). . . Personlig assistans i olika former — mål, ressurser og organisatoriska gränser (Various forms of personal assistance ‐ aims, resources and organisational borders), , Stockholm Stad FoU‐rapport 2002: 4.
Inst O nr 22 (1999–2000). . . Innstilling til sosialkomiteen om lov om endring i lov av 13. desember 1991 nr 81 om sosiale tjenester m.v. (brukerstyrt personlig assistanse). (Recommendation to the social committee on changes of the Social Services Act), [city: Oslo]:
Kaufmann , G and Kaufmann , A (1996). . . Psykologi i organisasjon og ledelse (Psychology in organisation and management). , [city: Bergen]: : Fagbokforlaget. .
Lillestø , B (1998). . . Når omsorgen oppleves krenkende. En Studie av hvordan mennesker med fysiske funksjonshemninger opplever sitt forhold til helsetjenesten. (When care is experienced violating. A study of how people with physical disabilities experiences their relation towards health services), , NF‐rapport nr. 22/98
Norén , L (2000). . . Offentliga marknader og brukarinnflytande (Public markets and user influence). . Kommunal ekonomi och politikk. , 4((1)): : 7.–.
Norwegian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (2001). . . Forskrift om habilitering og rehabilitering. (Regulation on habilitation and rehabilitation), [city: Oslo]:
Naess , S (1999). . . Utskjelling ‐ et arbeidsmiljøproblem i den hjemmebaserte omsorgen (Scolding ‐ a working environment problem of home based care). . Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. , 2((1)): : 3.–. 1999.
Oliver , M (1993). . . The Politics of Disablement. , [city: Hampshire], , UK: : Macmillan. .
Rundskriv I‐20/2000 til lov om sosiale tjenester mv. Brukerstyrt personlig assistanse (Circular on the Social Service Act etc. User controlled personal assistance). Sosial‐ og helsedepartementet. Oslo.
Rønning , R and Solheim , LJ (1998). . . Hjelp på egne premisser? Om brukermedvirkning i velferdssektoren (Help on one's own premises? On user influence in the welfare sector). , [city: Oslo]: : Universitetsforlaget. .
Skär , L and Tamm , M (2001). . . My Assistant and I: disabled children's and adolescents’ roles and relationship to their assistants. . Disability and Society , 16((7)): : 917.–. 2001.
Thorsen , K (2000). . . Eldreomsorg, kvaliteter og lokal kontekst (Care for elderly people, quality and local context). . Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning , 3((4)): : 203.–. 2000.
Williams , F (2001). . . “Posisjonering av velferdsbrukeren innen forskning: Fra passiv mottaker til velferdsaktør (The positioning of the welfare user in research: From passive receiver to welfare agent). ”. In Fra mottaker til aktør. Brukerens plass i praktisk sosialt arbeid og forskning. (From receiver to actor. The place of the user in practical social work and research). , Edited by: Sandbæk , M . [city: Oslo]: : Gyldendal Akademisk. .
Wærness , K (1999). . . “Omsorg, omsorgsarbeid og omsorgsrasjonalitet ‐ refleksjoner over en sosialpolitisk diskurs (Care, care work and care rationality ‐ reflections on a social policy discourse). ”. In Blir omsorgen borte? Eldreomsorgens hverdag i den senmoderne velferdsstaten. (Does the care disappear? Elderly care in the late modern welfare state). , Edited by: Thorsen , K and Wærness , K . [city: Oslo]: : Ad Notam. .
¹Thanks to Ole Petter Askheim, Jan Andersen and the referees of the journal for valuable comments on earlier versions of this article.

[CIT0001] Andersen , J (2001). . . Brukerstyrt personlig assistanse fra forsøk til lov (User controlled personal assistance from experiment to law). , Høgskolen i Lillehammer, rapport nr. 78/2001, rapport Østlandsforskning nr. 07/2001[city: Lillehammer]: : HIL. .

[CIT0002] Askheim , OP (1998). . . Omsorgspolitiske endringer ‐ profesjonelle utfordringer. (Care policy changes ‐ professional challenges). , [city: Oslo]: : Ad Notam Gyldendal. .

[CIT0003] Askheim , OP (2001a). . . Personlig assistanse for funksjonshemmede i Norden. En samtnenliknende Studie av ordningen i Danmark, Finland, Sverige og Norge (Personal assistance for disabled people in the Nordic countries. A comparative study of the scheme in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway). , Forskningsrapport nr. 61/2001 Høgskolen i Lillehammer, rapport 01/2001 Østlandsforskning[city: Lillehammer]: : HIL. .

[CIT0004] Askheim , OP (2001b). . . Når styringsevnen er begrenset. Brukerstyrt personlig assistanse og psykisk utviklingshemmede (When work management ability is limited. User controlled personal assistance and mentally disabled people). , Forskningsrapport nr 87/2001Høgskolen i Lillehammer. .

[CIT0005] Askheim , OP and Guldvik , I (1999). . . Fra lydighet til lederskap? Om brukerstyrt personlig assistanse (From obedience to management? On user controlled personal assistance). , [city: Oslo]: : Tano Aschehoug. .

[CIT0006] Bjørvik , KI (1987). . . Arbeids o g lederpsykologi (Work and management psychology). , Bedriftsøkonomens forlag (1. utgave. . 1973.

[CIT0007] Caruso , G (). . Conflicts over Choice, Rights and Responsibilities For People With Disabilities. . Paper presented at The Second International SRV Conference. . 1st‐4th, , [city: Boston], USA.

[CIT0008] Christensen , K and Syltevik , LJ (1999). . . “Omsorg, underordning og sosialpolitikk ‐ en introduksjon til Kari Wærness’ sosiologi (Care, subordination and social politics ‐ an introduction to Kari Wærness’ sociology). ”. In Omsorgens forvitring? Antologi om utfordringer i velferdsstaten. (The crumble of care? An anthology on the challenges of the welfare state). , Edited by: Christensen , K and Syltevik , LJ . [city: Bergen]: : Fagbokforlaget. .

[CIT0009] DeJong , G (1983). . . “Defining and Implementing the Independent Living Concept. ”. In Independent Living for Physically Disabled People. , Edited by: Crewe , NM and Zola , IK . [city: San Francisco]: : Jossey‐Bass Publishers. .

[CIT0010] Gough , R (1994). . . Personlig assistans ‐ en sosial bemästringsstrategi (Personal assistance ‐ a social mastering strategy), [city: Göteborg]:

[CIT0011] Gough , R and Modig , M (1996). . . Leva med personlig assistans (Living with personal assistance). , [city: Stockholm]: : Liber utbildning. .

[CIT0012] Guldvik , I (2001). . . Me Horn brukerstyring o g medbestemmelse — Å jobbe som personlig assistent (Between user control and co‐determination ‐ Working as a personal assistant), , ØF‐rapport nr. 04/2001

[CIT0013] Holth , AF (1996). . . Mestring og kontroli En teoretisk og empirisk belysning av brukerstyrt personlig assistanse. (Mastering and control. A theoretical and empirical study of user controlled personal assistance). , Hovedoppgave i psykologi, Universitetet i Oslo. .

[CIT0014] Hugemark , A and Wahlström , K (1999). . Conceptions of Personal Assistance: What Shall Be Done and Why?. . Paper presented at Nordic Network on Disability Research, (NNDR) conference. . September1999, , [city: Trondheim], Norway.

[CIT0015] Hugemark , A and Wahlström , K (2002). . . Personlig assistans i olika former — mål, ressurser og organisatoriska gränser (Various forms of personal assistance ‐ aims, resources and organisational borders), , Stockholm Stad FoU‐rapport 2002: 4.

[CIT0016] Inst O nr 22 (1999–2000). . . Innstilling til sosialkomiteen om lov om endring i lov av 13. desember 1991 nr 81 om sosiale tjenester m.v. (brukerstyrt personlig assistanse). (Recommendation to the social committee on changes of the Social Services Act), [city: Oslo]:

[CIT0017] Kaufmann , G and Kaufmann , A (1996). . . Psykologi i organisasjon og ledelse (Psychology in organisation and management). , [city: Bergen]: : Fagbokforlaget. .

[CIT0018] Lillestø , B (1998). . . Når omsorgen oppleves krenkende. En Studie av hvordan mennesker med fysiske funksjonshemninger opplever sitt forhold til helsetjenesten. (When care is experienced violating. A study of how people with physical disabilities experiences their relation towards health services), , NF‐rapport nr. 22/98

[CIT0019] Norén , L (2000). . . Offentliga marknader og brukarinnflytande (Public markets and user influence). . Kommunal ekonomi och politikk. , 4((1)): : 7.–.

[CIT0020] Norwegian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (2001). . . Forskrift om habilitering og rehabilitering. (Regulation on habilitation and rehabilitation), [city: Oslo]:

[CIT0021] Naess , S (1999). . . Utskjelling ‐ et arbeidsmiljøproblem i den hjemmebaserte omsorgen (Scolding ‐ a working environment problem of home based care). . Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. , 2((1)): : 3.–. 1999.

[CIT0022] Oliver , M (1993). . . The Politics of Disablement. , [city: Hampshire], , UK: : Macmillan. .

[CIT0023] Rundskriv I‐20/2000 til lov om sosiale tjenester mv. Brukerstyrt personlig assistanse (Circular on the Social Service Act etc. User controlled personal assistance). Sosial‐ og helsedepartementet. Oslo.

[CIT0024] Rønning , R and Solheim , LJ (1998). . . Hjelp på egne premisser? Om brukermedvirkning i velferdssektoren (Help on one's own premises? On user influence in the welfare sector). , [city: Oslo]: : Universitetsforlaget. .

[CIT0025] Skär , L and Tamm , M (2001). . . My Assistant and I: disabled children's and adolescents’ roles and relationship to their assistants. . Disability and Society , 16((7)): : 917.–. 2001.

[CIT0026] Thorsen , K (2000). . . Eldreomsorg, kvaliteter og lokal kontekst (Care for elderly people, quality and local context). . Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning , 3((4)): : 203.–. 2000.

[CIT0027] Williams , F (2001). . . “Posisjonering av velferdsbrukeren innen forskning: Fra passiv mottaker til velferdsaktør (The positioning of the welfare user in research: From passive receiver to welfare agent). ”. In Fra mottaker til aktør. Brukerens plass i praktisk sosialt arbeid og forskning. (From receiver to actor. The place of the user in practical social work and research). , Edited by: Sandbæk , M . [city: Oslo]: : Gyldendal Akademisk. .

[CIT0028] Wærness , K (1999). . . “Omsorg, omsorgsarbeid og omsorgsrasjonalitet ‐ refleksjoner over en sosialpolitisk diskurs (Care, care work and care rationality ‐ reflections on a social policy discourse). ”. In Blir omsorgen borte? Eldreomsorgens hverdag i den senmoderne velferdsstaten. (Does the care disappear? Elderly care in the late modern welfare state). , Edited by: Thorsen , K and Wærness , K . [city: Oslo]: : Ad Notam. .

[] ¹Thanks to Ole Petter Askheim, Jan Andersen and the referees of the journal for valuable comments on earlier versions of this article.

Reading: Personal assistants: Ideals of social care‐work and consequences for the Norwegian personal ...

Original Articles

Personal assistants: Ideals of social care‐work and consequences for the Norwegian personal assistance scheme

Author:

Ingrid Guldvik

Eastern Norway Research Institute, Lillehammer

About Ingrid

X close

Abstract

References