DOING WHAT WORKS FOR CHILDREN. New approaches for (future) professionals in Dutch youth care

This consortium addresses the urgent need for quality and effectiveness in Dutch youth care (DYC) and intends to create and implement innovative methods that facilitate effective working, professional development and workplace learning in DYC. The research questions are focused on 1) clarifying the core competencies essential for working effectively in DYC, 2) developing a stimulating, interactive and evidence-based learning environment for professionals, using digital innovations, and testing its effectiveness, 3) developing an implementation infrastructure in organisations for DYC that facilitates the use of the learning environment after the completion of the project.
Professionals in DYC work in a sector that is constantly changing, has little financial scope, heavy pressure of work and an extremely high turnover of staff. The results of the services provided leave much to be desired. This has enormous long- and short-term consequences for the development of individual youth and their families. And this in turn leads to high costs to society. From research we know that DYC can be hugely improved, with far-reaching and lasting positive effects on children and youth, their families and society as a whole. Up to now, existing and future professionals have benefited little, if at all, from this knowledge and they have insufficient opportunities to master the associated knowledge and skills and to develop these further. Equipping (future) professionals well, so they can perform their task properly, is essential for them to help children and youth grow up safe and healthy (question 59 from the route ‘Child and adolescent development, upbringing and education’) and to encourage a culture of learning in organisations (question 49 from the route ‘Towards resilient societies’).
We use a design-based research methodology and multiple-case experimental designs and work in co-creation with organisations in DYC, professionals, client representatives, Higher Professional Education as well as Academic degree programmes.