Relation Between Professionalism and Quality in Youth Care: A Systematic Review and Pilot-Study

Abstract

With the introduction of the Norm of Responsible Allocation of work, the Dutch Government attempts to improve the quality of youth care by improving the level of professionalism of the youth care workers. However, the relationship between professionalism and quality in youth care has not been found with certainty yet. Previous research show different results and conceptions of professionalism and quality vary among different countries within Europe and beyond. This study assesses the different variables influencing the relationship between professionalism and quality in youth care to examine the effects of the Norm of Responsible Allocation of Work on professionalism and quality in Dutch youth care. The literature search was done between November 2016 and January 2017 using several databases. The quantitative data for the exploratory study was collected by the Dutch Inspectorate for Youth Care at the end of 2015. The results of the systematic review show eight categories moderating the relation between professionalism and quality of youth care. The exploratory study adds several new categories to that relation. Combining all categories, three determinants arise moderating the relationship between professionalism and quality: Features of the professional, preconditions on the level of the professional, and preconditions on the level of the provider. However, statistical findings are limited. This means that the relationship between professionalism and quality of youth care in Dutch practice is still uncertain.