Perceptions of professionalism among clients and social workers in public employment services (2025)

Abstract

The challenges and possibilities of practicing professional social work in public employment services have been debated for some time (e.g., Raeymaeckers & Dierckx, 2013; Sadeghi & Terum, 2023; Pascoe et al., 2023). While some studies focus on discretion as indicative of professional practice (e.g., Jessen & Tufte, 2014; Andreassen, 2018), limited attention has been given to a broader understanding of social work professionalism encompassing knowledge, principles, and ethics (see Røysum, 2017; Andreassen & Natland, 2022 for exceptions). In this paper I explore ideas of what ‘good’ professional work is, at the street level of Danish public employment services;
-What does it mean to be a ‘good’ professional in this setting?
-Which knowledge, skills and attitudes are needed to be a ‘good’ professional?
-How are ideas of ‘good’ professional work connected with the social work profession or professionalism?
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 clients facing challenges beyond unemployment and 30 trained social workers working with this target group within public employment services.
While clients value professionals who engage with them as unique individuals, contrasting institutional representatives who treat them ‘as numbers’, social workers highlight the importance of coordinating various support services for clients, and being a stabilizing source of support in what is often complex cases. Both parties thus emphasize relational and connective aspects of professionalism (Noordegraaf, 2020), albeit without explicit linkage to the social work profession. Notably, descriptions of the knowledge and skills required for 'good' professionalism in public employment services focus more on personal attitudes than specific competencies.
The paper concludes with a discussion on the role of social work professionalism in public employment services, questioning whether the emphasis on connective aspects extends traditional social work professionalism, including responsiveness and holistic services, or represents a separate skillset detached from social work's core knowledge and attitudes.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Publikationsdato2024
StatusUdgivet - 2024
  • 1 Afsluttet
  • CUBB: CUBB - Center for Udvikling af Borgerinddragende Beskæftigelsesindsatser

    Caswell, D. (Projektleder), Larsen, F. (Projektleder), Andersen, N. (CoI (co-investigator)), Dall, T. (CoI (co-investigator)), Madsen, M. B. (CoI (co-investigator)), Nielsen, M. H. (CoI (co-investigator)), Monrad, M. (CoI (co-investigator)), Rasmussen, S. (CoI (co-investigator)), Breidahl, K. N. (CoI (co-investigator)) & Madsen, M. D. (Kontaktperson)

    Varde Kommune, Mariagerfjord Kommune, Carlsbergfondet, Aalborg University, Frederiksberg Kommune

    01/01/202001/07/2024

    Projekter: ProjektForskning

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Dall, T. (2024). Perceptions of professionalism among clients and social workers in public employment services.

Dall, Tanja. / Perceptions of professionalism among clients and social workers in public employment services.

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Dall, T 2024, 'Perceptions of professionalism among clients and social workers in public employment services'.

Perceptions of professionalism among clients and social workers in public employment services. / Dall, Tanja.
2024.

Publikation: Konferencebidrag uden forlag/tidsskriftKonferenceabstrakt til konferenceForskning

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N2 - The challenges and possibilities of practicing professional social work in public employment services have been debated for some time (e.g., Raeymaeckers & Dierckx, 2013; Sadeghi & Terum, 2023; Pascoe et al., 2023). While some studies focus on discretion as indicative of professional practice (e.g., Jessen & Tufte, 2014; Andreassen, 2018), limited attention has been given to a broader understanding of social work professionalism encompassing knowledge, principles, and ethics (see Røysum, 2017; Andreassen & Natland, 2022 for exceptions). In this paper I explore ideas of what ‘good’ professional work is, at the street level of Danish public employment services; -What does it mean to be a ‘good’ professional in this setting?-Which knowledge, skills and attitudes are needed to be a ‘good’ professional?-How are ideas of ‘good’ professional work connected with the social work profession or professionalism?Qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 clients facing challenges beyond unemployment and 30 trained social workers working with this target group within public employment services. While clients value professionals who engage with them as unique individuals, contrasting institutional representatives who treat them ‘as numbers’, social workers highlight the importance of coordinating various support services for clients, and being a stabilizing source of support in what is often complex cases. Both parties thus emphasize relational and connective aspects of professionalism (Noordegraaf, 2020), albeit without explicit linkage to the social work profession. Notably, descriptions of the knowledge and skills required for 'good' professionalism in public employment services focus more on personal attitudes than specific competencies.The paper concludes with a discussion on the role of social work professionalism in public employment services, questioning whether the emphasis on connective aspects extends traditional social work professionalism, including responsiveness and holistic services, or represents a separate skillset detached from social work's core knowledge and attitudes.

AB - The challenges and possibilities of practicing professional social work in public employment services have been debated for some time (e.g., Raeymaeckers & Dierckx, 2013; Sadeghi & Terum, 2023; Pascoe et al., 2023). While some studies focus on discretion as indicative of professional practice (e.g., Jessen & Tufte, 2014; Andreassen, 2018), limited attention has been given to a broader understanding of social work professionalism encompassing knowledge, principles, and ethics (see Røysum, 2017; Andreassen & Natland, 2022 for exceptions). In this paper I explore ideas of what ‘good’ professional work is, at the street level of Danish public employment services; -What does it mean to be a ‘good’ professional in this setting?-Which knowledge, skills and attitudes are needed to be a ‘good’ professional?-How are ideas of ‘good’ professional work connected with the social work profession or professionalism?Qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 clients facing challenges beyond unemployment and 30 trained social workers working with this target group within public employment services. While clients value professionals who engage with them as unique individuals, contrasting institutional representatives who treat them ‘as numbers’, social workers highlight the importance of coordinating various support services for clients, and being a stabilizing source of support in what is often complex cases. Both parties thus emphasize relational and connective aspects of professionalism (Noordegraaf, 2020), albeit without explicit linkage to the social work profession. Notably, descriptions of the knowledge and skills required for 'good' professionalism in public employment services focus more on personal attitudes than specific competencies.The paper concludes with a discussion on the role of social work professionalism in public employment services, questioning whether the emphasis on connective aspects extends traditional social work professionalism, including responsiveness and holistic services, or represents a separate skillset detached from social work's core knowledge and attitudes.

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

ER -

Dall T. Perceptions of professionalism among clients and social workers in public employment services. 2024.

Perceptions of professionalism among clients and social workers in public employment services (2025)
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