The cooperation between professionals and volunteers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to gain a deeper insight in how professionals and volunteers cooperate and how the cooperation is experienced by both groups. The study took place in several social teams in Utrecht. 5 professionals and 9 volunteers were interviewed. A qualitative research method made it possible to conduct semi-structured interviews and to fully reveal the respondents’ insights and thoughts on the type of cooperation and their experiences with this cooperation. The findings revealed that the type of cooperation within the social teams in Utrecht could be placed between a professional and shared responsibility. The professionals and Volunteers were predominantly positive about this type of cooperation. Tensions mainly rise from the existence of ‘new’ volunteers and differences between the suitability of volunteers. These factors can cause a lack in the continuity volunteers are able to offer and limits the level of complex tasks volunteers are able to handle. This can also demand more and ongoing coaching of the professional and may partly increase the pressure on professionals. The proposed solution is a stricter selection of volunteers, whereby professionals have more input in the selection process.