Care workers’ experiences of regulatory challenges in children’s residential homes in Finland

Abstract

Regulatory expansion in children’s residential care has emerged as a response to identified malpractices and aims to strengthen children’s rights. This article investigates how care workers experience and respond to regulatory challenges in implementing legislation designed to address these issues in Finland. The findings highlight tensions between ‘law on the books’ and ‘law in action’, revealing a perceived disconnect between legislative ideals and everyday realities. Contributing to broader discussions on rights-based care, the article emphasises the relational, interpretive and context-sensitive nature of applying legal frameworks in practice.