PhD Candidate in Social Work for Children and Youth

Health and Welfare in Dalarna, HvD (formerly the Social Services Development Center Dalarna) is a collaborative body between Dalarna University and the municipalities of Dalarna, aimed at developing activities within social services and related health care. HvD is now seeking a PhD candidate up to the licentiate degree for the project "From Law to Practice: Preventive Social Work for Children and Youth According to the New Social Services Act." The aim is to strengthen knowledge by contributing practice-oriented research for operational development and scientific knowledge development. The knowledge should support the development of evidence-based practice in line with the new Social Services Act.

Within the Department of Health and Welfare at Dalarna University, there is a cohesive academic environment with education and research with an interdisciplinary approach and collaboration with the surrounding community. This announcement concerns a position in the doctoral program leading to a licentiate degree and includes doctoral studies funded by HvD corresponding to 50%.

The PhD candidate will be employed full-time in one of the municipalities of Dalarna. The candidate will be admitted to the doctoral program in Health and Welfare with a focus on evidence-based practice in Nursing Science. The candidate will also be affiliated with HvD to contribute to strengthening research and development in collaboration.

The PhD candidate is offered a cohesive structure with courses and targeted activities throughout the doctoral education at Dalarna University. The candidate will have the opportunity to connect with other PhD candidates and researchers at Dalarna University and other institutions, as well as important networks for professionals and partners within HvD, such as the national Graduate School for Professionals in Social Services, FYS.

Your Workday as a PhD Candidate

A doctoral education leading to a licentiate degree comprises two years of full-time studies. For this position, doctoral studies will be conducted at 50% and 50% work with the employer while maintaining salary, which corresponds to a setup of four years.

During the project, you are expected to independently conduct research under supervision through the various stages of the research process. The PhD candidate will take courses and is expected to plan and conduct both qualitative and quantitative studies, with the support of supervisors. The candidate will develop their ability to independently critically evaluate and assess research results as well as communicate research orally and in writing in English. The candidate is expected to act as a bridge between research and practice, where they are expected to apply the skills acquired through the doctoral education in the practical work of the organization. The candidate will maintain a continuous dialogue with the municipalities of Dalarna, Dalarna University, and HvD and provide feedback on knowledge and research within HvD's area to several operational levels. Great emphasis will be placed on both collaboration skills and the ability to cooperate with the surrounding community.

Information about the Project

This is an interdisciplinary project whose overarching aim is to map and understand the implementation of the new Social Services Act with a particular focus on preventive work aimed at children, youth, and families. It involves mapping how the concept of "preventive" is understood within the social services' work towards children, youth, and families and how it is translated and adapted to concrete practice in local contexts, as well as what changes this entails for social workers' understanding of and the development of preventive social work towards children, youth, and their families. The project combines empirical mapping with knowledge, organizational, and professional role perspectives and ultimately aims to contribute knowledge on how social services' preventive work aimed at children, youth, and families can be strengthened. As a PhD candidate in this project, you will be part of a research group at Dalarna University studying several aspects of the implementation of the new Social Services Act.

Are You the Person We Are Looking For?

Basic eligibility for doctoral education is held by those who:

• have completed a master's degree in social work/nursing science/care, or a corresponding subject related to social services, health care, or another relevant field
• have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the master's level, or in other ways acquired substantially equivalent knowledge within or outside the country
• are employed at least 50% in one of the municipalities of Dalarna

For this position, you are required to have:

• completed a master's degree in nursing science/care, social work, or a corresponding subject related to the health and welfare field
• successfully completed a master's thesis in the health and welfare field with a passing grade
• necessary language skills in Swedish and English

It is meritorious if you have:

• experience working within the social services sector.
• experience working with analysis and quality development within the social services sector.

Personal Qualities Needed to Succeed

• collaboration and cooperation skills, initiative, good analytical ability, and a high degree of responsibility

The Employment

The PhD candidate retains their regular employment in one of the municipalities of Dalarna, where salary and other benefits are maintained. Decisions regarding changed work tasks are made by the employer where the applicant is employed (the municipalities of Dalarna), while Dalarna University is responsible for admission to the doctoral program.

Assessment Criteria

Dalarna University and the municipalities of Dalarna will consider in this recruitment the candidate who, after a qualitative overall assessment, is deemed to have the best conditions for completing doctoral education leading to a licentiate degree within the presented project.

Application Documents

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Certified copies of degree certificates and transcripts for courses included in the degree, etc.
• Completed theses and/or bachelor's/master's degree papers as well as any other scientific texts or relevant documents, such as investigation assignments or quality work
• A brief description of why the applicant is interested in the doctoral program and research project, maximum two pages.
• Contact details for two referees

Application deadline: 2026-03-15

Sverre Wide
Associate Professor of Sociology and Project Manager
[email protected] 023-77 80 53

Elin Venngren
Operations Manager for Health and Welfare in Dalarna
[email protected] 023-77 84 80