Redenen voor uithuisplaatsing: de argumenten van hulpverleners in de jeugdzorg.

Abstract

Objective Out-of-home placements have a deep impact on family life. From caseworkers is expected that their decisions are thoughtfully reconsidered and reasoned. The aim of this study is to show insight into the criteria for placement decisions of caseworkers in youth care. Up to now little is known about this aspect. The following questions are central: (1) which criteria do caseworkers in youth care use with an out-of-home placement; (2) are there differences in criteria for involuntary placements and voluntary placements; (3) are there differences in criteria for standard placements and placements in need of a crisis-intervention. Method The criteria for placement decisions are reviewed through 75 documentary analyses using a structured questionnaire and scoring instrument, composed out of the literature. The criteria are divided within five different domains: child, parent, upbringing, family and environment. Results Results show similarities with the criteria from the literature. Caseworkers most often report criteria related to the upbringing of a child. Placement criteria differ with age, cultural background and elderly problems. The criteria show coherence with the remaining risk factors present in the case. With involuntary placements more criteria are reported related to the domains Parent/provider and Environment. Between standard and crisis placement differences appeared only for separate criteria and subcriteria . Conclusion Findings can be used for the development of youth care guidelines for out-of-home placements and in the future for different sorts of instruments to support decision-making.