Ledelse av profesjonalisert velferd i et paradoksteoretisk perspektiv

Abstract

Despite an increased focus on the professionalisation of welfare leadership, leadership challenges in the healthcare sector and child welfare services are an unexplored area. This chapter deals with welfare leadership, and attention is directed at the nature of these challenges and how paradox theory can be used to describe and explain them. This chapter shows that the framework and conditions of welfare leadership are often contradictory and that demands and expectations are often characterised by paradoxes. Major reforms have been implemented in Norway in recent years, and increased quality, expanded expertise and stronger leadership have been among the focus areas. Many leaders in the healthcare sector and child welfare services increasingly experience conflicting and intersecting governance requirements, and everyday leadership is characterised by complexity, uncertainty and stress. Leaders in complex, contradictory and quotidian conditions experience challenges in the areas of managerial discretion and broader leadership competence. Finally, the author discusses the need for leaders to develop competence in handling dilemmas by acquiring training in paradoxical thinking and handling complexity.