Shedding light on invisible social work – school counsellors’ practically oriented support to newly arrived students

In the early 2010s, Sweden received many refugee children, both accompanied by family and unaccompanied. The reception system struggled to meet their needs. The aim of this study is to analyse how school counsellors reflect on their roles and professional responsibilities in their work with newly arrived students, whom they often perceive as having extensive needs for practically oriented support. Based on qualitative interviews with 15 school counsellors working with young migrants in lower and upper secondary schools, the material was analysed using qualitative thematic analysis.