Social services approach to
Case Assessment
2014- 01-28
The County Administrative Board of Stockholm –
Counteracting prostitution and trafficking
 National co-ordination in Sweden - Office of the national coordinator
 Co-ordination for safe return of victims of trafficking
 Support programs for rehabilitation of victims of trafficking
 Mapping of the prostitution in Sweden
 National Guidelines regarding trafficking in human beings
 National Operational Co-ordination/ Children: National Police Board,
National Criminal Police, Specialised Police Units in Stockholm,
Prosecutors office, International Chambers, The Swedish Migration
Board/Child expert, Social services in i Stockholm & Gothenburg
 A flexible and adjustable composition depending on needs
 Operational support through advice/ national guidelines for social
services/ other authorities
National report on trafficked children in
Sweden, 2009-2011

2009–2011 Social service and NGO´s
registered 166 Children possible victims of
THB. (100 children reported to the police)

Of the 102 children in social services there
were:

81 of the children defined as unaccompanied/
approx. 50/50 children from EU and asylumseeking children

12 children was with their parents

50/50 Boys and Girls. Age 3 to 17 years

50 % Sexual-exploitation- majority girls

50 % criminality, begging and work –majority
boys

Very few THB cases with children to court.
3 persons convicted in three years, 5 children
involved.
Conclusions and Proposals from the report

Increased national responsibility for trafficked children

Specific guidelines to social services*

Skills development and increased authority-cooperation*

Qualified and specialized institutions for the target group*

Protect children from disappearing*

Strengthen children's rights in the legal process

Revision regarding legislation in cases with children

Stronger cooperation in-between EU countries*
Child protection
Report 14:1 SoL
First assessment/
Risk assessment
Is there need for
immediate protection?
Trafficking suspicion
Report to the police
Start social investigation
11:1,2 SoL/ BBIC
How is the child heard?
Assessment- why is a
social investigation not
started?
Social assessment/
Legal guardian
§ 6 LVU
Open or closed
institution
Contact embassy/LST
Stockholm/IOM/ social
authorities in home
country
Brussels II regulation?
Social Services Act/ Child Protection

Social services act – SoL

14 kap 1 § SoL – report

11 kap 1,2 §§ SoL – social assessment (4 months)

LVU - Care of Young Persons Act –(1 month/ 6
months) LSU

Emergency assessment of risks/ protection
measures

BBIC – Children’s needs in focus – NBHW - a
framework for assessment, planning and reviewing
in child welfare

Legal guardianship/ dilemmas

Brussels II regulation

Difference in praxis and decisions from
Administrative courts/ municipalities

Children are not identified as victims
Decision process/ Care of young persons act
Social
worker/
suggestion to
decision
LVU (LVM)
Municipality
Chairman of
Social Welfare
Board
Administrative
court
decision
Cooperation: Authorities & Organisations
Child
protectio
n/ Social
service
Outreach
socialworkers
POLICE/
PROSECUTOR
The
Child
Health
services
Institution
NGO´s
Best Interest Determination/ Dilemmas

Child committing a crime being a possible victim of
trafficking

Institution needs to have knowledge about the
specific needs

Treated as a criminal not as a victim

Identification/ former criminality?

Quick information regarding this from the police.
Effects the protection measures taken by social
authorities.

In the Child's best interest to have the charges
dropped and be classified as a victim of trafficking.

The child might not agree on this

Ethical dilemmas in the best interest determination

The social services and the child´s view on best
interest determination
Specific issues transnational cases
 Embassies
 Cooperation national authorities for family assessment/
Best interest Determination
 Brussels II regulation
 Coordinating/ planning a voluntary and safe return
Contact:
Charlotta Thorelius, tfn +46-8-785 41 14
e-post: charlotta.thorelius@lansstyrelsen.se
http://projektwebbar.lansstyrelsen.se/NMTSVERIGE
Example of a process/ authorities/ BID?
Asylum seeking
child/ when
committing a
crime
social services
contact / child
committing a crime
and restart the
asylum process disappears
The child has no
connection to any
authority except from
a missing persons
report at the police
Goes missing –
reported from social
service/ legal
guardian to the
police
After 2 weeks- case
closed in migration
services
Social services close
11; 1,2 Sol when the
child is not found.