‘How shall we handle this situation?’ Social workers’ discussions about risks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Swedish elder care

Within a context where New Public Management [NPM] has become increasingly influential in shaping everyday working practices, social workers often handle risks their work using formalised bureaucratic procedures, among other strategies. As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, rapid changes occurred Swedish elder care that were required to address work. Intra-professional case conferences amongst provide one opportunity discuss individual viewpoints and obtain suggestions from colleagues on how proceed with case. These discussions have so far received little scholarly attention. In this study we used data set consisting of 39 audio-recorded analyse workers’ intra-professional about during pandemic. conferences, discussed accentuated by pandemic, such as risk spreading clients, unmet needs related accountability, pertaining blurred boundaries between different organisations. The collegial included opportunities for use collective professional experience competency establish creative solutions ‘on go’ various ways handling balancing while continuing carry out changing unknown situation. Our findings highlight importance support dealing