Practising professionalism in activation work: Developing and testing a questionnaire

Abstract

The professional nature and professionalisation of the street-level delivery of activation policies have received increasing attention in academic debate. The study reported in this article contributes to this debate in two ways. The first way is to elaborate a multidimensional conceptualisation of practising professionalism in activation work, distinguishing eight dimensions: knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, knowledge use, innovation, accountability, client-centred practice, collaboration and methodical work. The second way is to have developed and test a questionnaire for studying professional practice in activation work. Two models were compared in the study. The first model hypothesised that professional practice is a construct capturing all eight dimensions. The second model hypothesised that the eight dimensions reflect a knowledge-oriented and a service-oriented aspect of professional practice. The models were tested using data from a survey among Dutch activation workers. Both provided acceptable fits with our data. What model researchers consider most appropriate will depend on the focus of their research. Key Practitioner Message • This article helps practitioners in discussing and developing the professionalisation of the frontline delivery of activation policies.