Monialainen yhteistyö kotouttamisessa – näkökulmana poliisin työ

Abstract

This article-based dissertation in sociology examines the ongoing changes in the sphere of work and professional expertise that are taking place in Finnish society due to its increasing ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity. The dissertation consists of four peer-reviewed articles. In order to study the challenges in enhancing joint expertise, it looks at multi-agency collaboration in integration work between the public and third sector. At the centre is the perspective of the police, especially in proactive police work at the local level. The research questions are as follows: How does multi-agency collaboration challenge the professional expertise and autonomy? What are the main factors that influence with whom the collaboration takes place, what it looks like, and how it is structured? This dissertation combines insights from research on work life and immigration and uses theories from the field of education research in analyzing collaborative learning and informal learning at work. The data includes interviews (15 individual, one group interview) from five police districts and one specific unit in Finland collected between November 2015 and August 2017. In addition, the data includes integration programmes from three municipalities. The analysis was conducted by using methods of critical close reading. Multi-agency collaboration is seen as necessary or even “self-evident” in police work due to the need for an overlapping knowledge of the relevant area in promoting safety and security. While the qualitative outcomes are related in the collaborative work, these are difficult to fit into the system of how achievements are usually documented. In the analysis, collaboration emerges as an opportunity for developing the work practices that aim at dismantling practices of “Othering”. At the same time, the professional autonomy of the police is strong, and is seen as constructed by a combination of contextual discretion. The conclusions are as follows: Firstly, proactive police work is seen as dialogic and flexible work that can be transformed according to the different situations. Secondly, the key element that emerges is meeting people with respect and dignity. Awareness of the legal, ethical and moral questions about equality and justice are here highlighted. Finally, the study brings forward the question of vocabulary, i.e. which expressions to use when the aim is to strengthen people’s experience of inclusion and everyday security. In the future, there is a need to include the knowledge and practices of collaboration in the police education as well as in further training of the police forces. Keywords: multi-agency collaboration, police work, integration work, professional expertise, learning at work