Att Arbeta Tillsammans. En fallstudie i social arbetsmiljö och relationellt arbete inom ett äldreboende

Elderly care constitutes a central part of the Swedish welfare system and is characterised by high job demands, limited resources, and relationally intensive work. The social work environment therefore plays a significant role in how everyday work is experienced. The aim of this study is to explore how the social work environment and experiences of participation are shaped in daily work within an elderly care organisation, with particular attention to organisational conditions and varying levels of employment. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study at a privately run residential care home in southern Sweden and is based on semi-structured interviews with eleven permanently employed staff members, as well as participant observations. The material was analysed thematically, drawing on the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) model and the concept of social capital. The findings show that the social work environment is primarily shaped through relationships with managers, colleagues, and residents. Collegial support, present leadership, and effective communication emerge as key resources, while informal norms may contribute to conditional forms of belonging. Employment level does not appear to be decisive in itself, but rather functions as part of the organisation’s broader contextual conditions. The study contributes in-depth knowledge of how the social work environment and relational work are shaped in practice within elderly care and is relevant for practical occupational health and work environment initiatives.