Özet:

Abstract This is a qualitative-exploratory study, carried out in a city in the interior of the state of São Paulo, SP, Brazil, in 2017. It aimed to understand the work process of educators of special social protection in a institutional shelter for children and adolescents. Five meetings were held with eight educators, aged between 25 and 58 years. The tools used were: participant observation; field diaries; audio recordings and transcriptions; and theoretical framework of Freudian Psychoanalysis. Bardin content analysis was used and, from the educators’ reports, two categories emerged: 1) Impotence at work; and 2) The shelter as an extension of the family. They were aware of their complaints, but demonstrated a lack of training, adopting defense mechanisms to deal with suffering. The research showed the need for an articulated support network composed of professionals trained to provide comprehensive assistance to children and adolescents in social vulnerability.

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