ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the influence of neoliberal policies on social work practice in Norway. It focuses on how the neoliberalisation of social work in Norway, which has resulted in a stronger user perspective, has at the same time increased the individualisation of social problems and marketisation of social work practice. The chapter illustrates users' voices by focusing on young people's participation in Child Welfare Services and Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). It looks at the role of non-profit and private organisations within the area of child welfare, and examines the role of user councils in NAV. The major political goals for social services in Norway are to get more people employed and active and fewer on benefits. One of the goals is to strengthen user participation. User representation is closely linked to the more widely known concept of user participation.
