Work

Care workers’ experiences of regulatory challenges in children’s residential homes in Finland

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Regulatory expansion in children’s residential care has emerged as a response to identified malpractices and aims to strengthen children’s rights. This article investigates how care workers experience and respond to regulatory challenges in implementing legislation designed to address these issues in Finland. The findings highlight tensions between ‘law on the books’ and ‘law in action’, revealing a perceived disconnect between legislative ideals and everyday realities. Contributing to broader discussions on rights-based care, the article emphasises the relational, interpretive and context-sensitive nature of applying legal frameworks in practice.

Source: International Journal of Care and Caring

DOI: 10.1332/23978821y2025d000000151

Author: Jenni Repo

Institution: Tampere University

Language: English

Topic: Child Welfare and Adoption

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, OLVI-Säätiö, Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiö