Targeting, Accountability and Youth Work Practice

Spence, J.

doi:10.1080/09503150500045543

Targeting, Accountability and Youth Work Practice

Spence, J.

Authors

J. Spence

Abstract

Using the findings of an investigation into detached and outreach youth work, sponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, this article considers tensions between generic youth work and contemporary policy initiatives. It is argued that there are fundamental and distinguishing aspects of youth work practice in terms of relationships, partnerships, and time which enable youth workers to undertake successful interventions with groups of young people who are defined as ‘socially excluded’. However, the demands of government policy in relation to targeting and accountability are in tension with practice in these key areas. Without a clearly articulated and specific language of youth work practice, the very aspects of youth work which make it attractive to policy makers are in danger of being undermined by policy.

Citation

Spence, J. (2004). Targeting, Accountability and Youth Work Practice. Practice: Social Work in Action, 16(4), 261-272. https://doi.org/10.1080/09503150500045543

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Dec 1, 2004
Deposit Date	Feb 10, 2010
Publicly Available Date	Feb 12, 2010
Journal	Practice.
Print ISSN	0950-3153
Electronic ISSN	1742-4909
Publisher	British Association of Social Workers
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	16
Issue	4
Pages	261-272
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1080/09503150500045543
Keywords	Youth work, Professional accountability, Targeting, Youth exclusion, Joseph rowntree foundation.

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Copyright Statement
This is an electronic version of an article published in Spence, J. (2004) 'Targeting, accountability and youth work practice.', Practice., 16 (4). pp. 261-272. Practice is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/09503150500045543