Research shows that people with complex social problems often require services from several different divisions and/or organizations of the social services in order to cover all of family’s needs. However, when it comes to cooperation between these divisions and/or organizations, disagreements and structural differences in addressing social problems can lead to people ‘falling through the cracks.’ Coordinated services is a part of legislation in both the Social Services and Healthcare laws of Sweden since 2010 and is to be used as a guideline when there is a need for internal and/or external cooperation between several organizations. The purpose of this study is to examine how cooperation between different divisions within the social services works today as well as the process of how services are granted by different divisions, how granted services are then defended by the division which grants them and how differences in how case workers organize the investigation process can impact outcome in granted services. To complete  this study, two focus groups, compiled of representatives from different divisions of the social services, were interviewed regarding a fictive family.  The results of this study appear to be consistent with previous research showing that cooperation is crucial when it comes to working with individuals/families with complex needs. At the same time, the results shows that cooperation between organizations and divisions doesn’t always work as it should. This study reveals differences between the two focus groups concerning the number of granted services recommended and the explanations given for granting (or not granting) certain services.  The focus groups also differed concerning the extent to which case workers decisions are impacted by factors outside the family such as money, the organization’s budget and politics. Even when internal cooperation within the city government succeeds, both focus groups highlight an even greater need for development of cooperation between external organizations.

Forskning visar att personer med social problematik ofta behöver hjälpande insatser från flera olika enheter eller organisationer för att täcka hela hjälpbehovet. När det kommer till att samarbeta över enhets-/eller organisationsgränser uppstår oenigheter och problem som kan leda till att personer ”faller mellan stolarna”. Samordnade insatser är sedan 2010 lagstiftat i både Socialtjänstlagen och Hälso-och sjukvårdslagen och ska finnas som hjälp när det kommer till att samarbeta över organisationsgränserna. Vi ville genom ett vinjettfall med tillhörande fokusgruppsintervjuer undersöka vilka insatser som blir beviljade och hur dessa motiveras, om det finns skillnader i hur socialsekreterare strukturerar handläggningsprocesserna samt hur samverkan upplevs fungera idag. Resultatet visar i linje med forskning att samordning är viktigt när det kommer till dessa individer. Samtidigt ter sig samordningen inte fungerar lika bra som det är tänkt. Vi såg skillnader mellan fokusgrupperna gällande antalet beviljade insatser och hur dessa motiverades. Fokusgrupperna skiljer sig gällande uppfattningen om hur man påverkas av pengar, budget och politik. Även om samverkan fungerar bättre internt inom kommunen, finns ändå utvecklingspotential gällande samarbete mellan både enheter och organisationer.