This thesis focus on the procedure of repatriation cases in Denmark. Millions of refugees are currently fleeing, and for most of them, their highest priority is to return to their country safely. The Danish legislation concerning repatriation contains both counseling as well as the largest economic support to repatriation in Scandinavia. Supporting repatriation is permitted for refugees with a residence permit, but not for refugees with Danish citizenship.
The procedure of repatriation cases are handled by municipality social workers cooperating with the Danish refugee organization Dansk Flygtningehjælp. During this project seven municipality social workers have been interviewed to identify how they handle repatriation procedures. Furthermore the opportunities and limits concerned with repatriation procedures as a specialized part of social work, both within the municipalities and in cooperation with Dansk Flygtningehjælp.
Results indicate that there are different perceptions of the repatriation procedures amongst the municipality social workers. This is displayed by dividing the use of administrative and comprehensive approach towards repatriation applicants. Administrative approach emphasizes an informative approach with focus on passing on process- and legislative information. The comprehensive approach emphasizes gaining further information about the applicant’s personal life to have the applicant consider the consequences of repatriation. This occurs even though the legislation could be handled administrative. Overall the municipality social workers asked, identify repatriation as an opportunity for refugees who had an unsuccessful integration in Denmark or risks loneliness in their old age.
A disadvantage concerning repatriation as specialized social work is that the social workers in the municipalities experience professional loneliness as the leaders and colleagues do not possess insight of what repatriation contains. Furthermore there is a risk that the social workers are not familiar with other departments, even though the social workers adapt a comprehensive approach. Therefore the social workers are not able to assist the applicant with other issues than repatriation.
The cooperation with Dansk Flygtningehjælp has, as specialized social work in an interactive organization perspective, the advantage that the municipality social workers have a sparring partner with knowledge as well as being kept updated within the professional network. The disadvantage of the cooperation is that overlapping of work can occur, and that Dansk Flygtningehjælp will take over assignments designated to the municipality. This means among other, that increasing numbers of social workers will not keep updated about the legislation, but adapt to the opinions and counseling of Dansk Flygtninghjælp. Consequently this could mean that social workers specialized in repatriation will not meet the legal rights requirements.