Heilskapleg oppfølging kring ungdom i Nav

Project summary

Abstract The project Holistic follow-up of vulnerable young people with needs for situational and specially adapted support in NAV is designed as a two-stage qualitative study. The aim is to generate local knowledge on how NAV can provide more comprehensive and coordinated services for young people in vulnerable life situations. Method and design: Stage one applied a qualitative design with two focus groups: (1) young NAV users (ages 22–30) requiring situational or specially adapted support, and (2) NAV employees working with this group. Recruitment was conducted in cooperation with NAV Region Sogn, which also contributed to developing the research questions and commented on the interview guide. Data were analysed through Braun & Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis, using an inductive approach. After the initial data collection and preliminary analysis, results were presented and discussed in two separate workshops: one with employees, where findings from both groups were addressed, and one with four young participants, who were invited to comment on preliminary findings from both employees and youth. Preliminary results were also presented to NAV staff in Region Sogn in December 2024. Findings: Young people report complex health challenges, difficulties navigating NAV’s fragmented system, and strong reliance on trustful relationships with caseworkers. Employees describe the user group as heterogeneous, ranging from highly motivated to those with severe challenges, with health issues and lack of work experience being common. Both groups emphasise the importance of tailored expectations, trust, continuity, and holistic support, while pointing to limited resources, fragmented services, and a gap between policy goals and everyday realities as key challenges. Stage two will be developed with NAV based on these findings, with the aim of jointly planning and testing practice changes. Ethics: The study has been reported to and approved by SIKT. Written consent was obtained from all participants, and anonymity and confidentiality are safeguarded.