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The contemporary state of youth care: Impact of the decentralization on youth care employees : How decentralization of youth care influenced how youth care employees carry out their work and how they cope with the changes in their working conditions

Gervink, C.M. (2018) The contemporary state of youth care: Impact of the decentralization on youth care employees : How decentralization of youth care influenced how youth care employees carry out their work and how they cope with the changes in their working conditions.

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Abstract:Youth care organizations and municipalities were faced with new challenges to cope with after the decentralization of youth care in 2015. The aim of this research has been to describe these challenges from the perspective of the people working in youth care. To describe the contemporary situation, the book ‘Jeugdhulp & Jeugdbeleid’ by Clarijs (2016) has been applied, supplemented by a wide variety of other sources. The theories applied in this research are Street-level bureaucracy as described by Lipsky (2010), supplemented by Street-level leadership by Vinzant & Crothers (1998). To research the field, seven interviews have been conducted: Four interviews at youth care organizations, one at a social neighbourhood team and two at municipalities. These interviewees hold various positions within youth care. In general, they hold managerial positions in which they are also directly involved with clients in their daily work. The first researched aspect entails the influence of the decentralization on the working conditions of youth care employees. In general, youth care employees had perceived an influence in their working conditions due to the decentralization. These influences vary between organizations, however, the main influence perceived by all organizations is related to the administrative burden. The perceived increase, or when administration did not decrease even though this was contemplated, had negatively influenced the working conditions of youth care employees. In the second research question, similar findings are found related to the (perceived) workload. Youth care employees felt an increase in the workload due to the added administrative burden. In addition, there is also the influence of the ‘network approaches’ that are now being applied. The network approach is a method of solving situations which actively involves the network of the client. Network approaches are designed to result in durable solutions by enabling the network to solve their own future problems. It should be noted that network approaches, even though they add to the workload, are considered to be positive due to their effectivity on youth care related problems. In the third research question, the focus has been on how youth care clients are affected by the decentralization. The main findings of this research that influence the clients are the application of network approaches, and the shortening of trajectories. However, even though they are shorter, clients stay in contact with youth care organizations after they went through their trajectories. This way, clients are less likely to see their situation escalate after their trajectories. Lastly, in the explanations chapter there is emphasis on how the youth care employees deal with the changes due to the decentralization. This research concludes that the following coping mechanisms can be found in youth care: rationing and routinization. Routinization is due to the fact that the trajectories are being shortened, and rationing because youth care is aiming to provide youth care to the clients that need it the most.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:88 social and public administration
Programme:Public Administration MSc (60020)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/74908
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