On 3 June, Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner (SKR) organized a seminar examining how Swedish social services are currently navigating diverging policy directions. A new Social Services Act, entering into force on 1 July, emphasizes early, preventive, and knowledge-based support, while other ongoing policy developments point toward more repressive approaches. This dual development places new demands on social services to balance supportive and controlling roles in their daily work.

The seminar focused on how professionals can navigate these changing expectations and what the evolving policy landscape may mean both for staff and citizens. More than 70 municipalities participated in the event, with contributions from researchers, municipal representatives, children’s rights organizations, and trade unions, creating a broad exchange of perspectives and experiences.

Among the participants was Maria Grahn-Farley, HRJust Coordinator and Visiting Professor at the University of Gothenburg, who shared insights from her research on how states invoke human rights arguments and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child when justifying policy decisions and legal measures. Her contribution addressed emerging trends and highlighted considerations relevant for professionals working within these evolving frameworks.

The seminar provided an important space for reflection on how social services can respond to shifting policy expectations while maintaining a focus on rights, professional responsibility, and the needs of those they serve. Such exchanges contribute to ongoing dialogue on how public institutions can navigate complex policy changes in practice.