Postdoctoral Researcher (80%) | HES-SO Valais-Wallis

The aim of the project is to explore the growing intersections between social work and policing and

how they impact social work practice across three European welfare states: Switzerland, Sweden, and

Ireland. The principal objectives of the project are to empirically analyse when and how social work

professionals refer cases to the police and other situations where they perform roles related to policing

and crime control. Theoretically, the project will assess how the incorporation of policing functions

into social work influences professionals’ engagement with structurally marginalised groups and how

this reshapes the broader societal role of social work. From a public policy perspective, the project

will provide a comprehensive mapping of the continuities and differences in the social welfare-crime

control nexus across various European welfare regimes. It will also generate policy recommendations

to ensure the preservation of social work values and objectives.

Position description

Selection criteria

Place of work: Sierre

Starting date: 01.09.2025 or tbd

Duration of employment: 4 years

For further information please contact Lisa Marie Borrelli, head of the project, lisa.borrelli(α)hevs.ch.

For this project we will collaborate with Dr Annika Lindberg from the University of Gothenburg.

Please submit your complete application documents (CV, motivation letter, diplomas and certificates) by 21 February 2025 by clicking on the Apply button. Only online applications will be considered.