The Function of History in the Debate on the Social Professions: The Case of Youth Work

摘要: Measured by the standards of traditional professions like medicine or law, professionalisation in social field is at very least incomplete. In contrast to these benchmark professions, those area are invariably struggling secure their profession’s reputation eyes public; and they have no strict control over access their profession, curriculum content designated fields practice. Furthermore, they experiencing impact a public crisis confidence general, compounded other, related challenges, such as greater emphasis on accountability, citizens’ rights ‘consumer control’, increasing prevalence neo-liberal politics in Europe. This paper suggests that it may be fortunate general the professions occurring just point where youth work beginning enter seriously the era professionalisation. It argues work, given its distinctive history, is characterised inherent tensions ambiguities. Is primarily about autonomy and authenticity assimilation adjustment; reproduction identities their transformation; an organised element policy spontaneous product of movements? The author’s view far from simply siding with one we should see negotiation ambivalence core skills and competences workers, approach compatible – may draw inspiration project humanism.