The role of the social services in the public system for crisis preparedness – an empirical  study from staff perspective

The aim of this study is to contribute to knowledge as regard the relationship between the social services and the public system for crisis preparedness as seen from the perspective of social services staff with direct contact with clients and/or first-line leaders. Empirically the study concerns the staff’s experience of severe events and of activities and processes pertaining to crisis preparedness, such as risk and vulnerability analysis, education and exercises. Further, it concerns staff’s valua- tion of major risks and of crisis preparedness as an area of operation. The material was obtained with a web based questionnaire (N=1020) with closed and open questions and with room for free text. The material was analysed in terms of frequencies and subjected to open qualitative coding. The results suggests that the staff are not involved in the activities and processes of crisis prepared- ness to a significant extent, although they seem to be motivated. They do not seem to have been given opportunities to develop an understanding of crisis preparedness and how it affects social services. They also seem to have a composite understanding of central concepts in the area of crisis preparedness such as crisis, extraordinary events, risk and vulnerability. Their understanding seems to be underpinned by considerations involving intersubjective dimensions of security.

It is concluded that it would be beneficial for the system of crisis preparedness if the social servi- ces were systematically involved and differing notions of central concepts were clarified. Further, given an acknowledgement of the role of intersubjective dimensions of security the social services could contribute perspectives informed by their close contacts with users and the general popula- tion as regards risks, vulnerability and consequences of crisis and disasters. It is argued that this would contribute qualitatively to crisis preparedness as an area of operation.