Kaja Larsen Østerud

Affiliation

I hold an MSc in Work and Organizational Psychology from the University of Oslo (2011) and a PhD in Social Work and Social Policy from OsloMet (2022). My research focuses on social exclusion, labour market participation, and the relationship between marginalized groups, employers, welfare services, and the welfare state. I have particularly examined employers' perceptions of disabled jobseekers, labour market discrimination, work inclusion, and the experiences of families navigating complex welfare and service systems. My work draws on perspectives from social policy, labour market studies, and disability studies, and is primarily based on qualitative methods, including case studies, in-depth interviews, and observation. I also lead the Disability Research Network at NOVA

Disciplines

Research groups

Health and Welfare Studies

Research projects

Active research projects

Promising Practices: Holistic Work Inclusion of Young Adults
The project will map how young adults are followed up in NAV with the aim of developing the work inclusion practice of this group.
Mental health and life satisfaction among youth with disabilities and experiences of services in the post-pandemic period (D-youth)
This project will provide new knowledge on mental health, life satisfaction, and use of services among youth with disabilities in the Nordic countries during the post-pandemic period.
Coordinated Care for Children (CoCare)
How can the child coordinator scheme contribute to improved quality and coordination of health and welfare services for families with children with disabilities?

Completed research projects

HIRE? A Mixed-method Examination of Disability and Employers Inclusive Working Life Practices
Employers' understandings of disability as well as their broader knowledge and skills are likely to influence their risk assessments and hiring practices. HIRE? aims to fill this knowledge gap.
Socio-spatial Inequality among Families with Children with Disabilities who are Entitled to Cash Benefits and Welfare Services (UPTAKE)
The research project will provide insight into the uptake and delivery of benefits and services among parents of children with disabilities.
Consequences of the Pandemic for Living Conditions and Equality
In this project we will investigate the consequences of the pandemic for living conditions for children and young people, equality in families and for individuals, including children and adults with disabilities.
Discrimination of Muslims in the Labour Market
The topic of this project is the discrimination of Muslims in the labour market.
The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training's Competency Package for Inclusive Practice
How does professionals in schools and kindergartens use The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training's competence package for inclusive practice?
NAV and Domestic Violence
In this project, we examine how NAV works with issues related to domestic violence and how individuals exposed to violence experience their contact with NAV.

Publications and research

These publications are obtained from Norwegian Research Information Repository. The list may be incomplete.