Professional Intervention Contracts: Structure and Goals

Intervention Contract

Consistency makes a difference in reaching an agreement. It sets out the actions the user must perform and the consequences of both performance and failure. It is used to increase motivation and commitment to change and to solve the problem that is leading to professional intervention.

Development of the Contract

1. Preliminary stage: Making contact with the case, gathering information, establishing a climate of trust, and analyzing the user's resource capacity.
2. Negotiation phase: The search for agreement between participants (user and professional) on specific points. This includes 5 key elements:
   • Clarification of the problem.
   • Clarification of aspirations.
   • Establishing common goals.
   • Preparation of a work plan.
   • Finalizing the contract.
3. Start-up phase: Sharing of tasks.
   • Accompaniment.
   • Readjustment, if necessary.
4. Evaluation of outcomes: Analysis and assessment of the commitments made.

These actions are based on prevention, assistance, training, and rehabilitation, distributed across the following areas:

Organization of the Home Field

Domestic Care (Daily Tasks):

• Food: Ranging from the development of diets and grocery shopping to preparing meals at home or utilizing a home meal service. Shopping should be done (if possible) accompanied by the user to serve a dual objective: mobilization and education.
• Clothing: Includes shopping, washing, ironing, repair, and management. The user must be responsible for these tasks, though instruction may be necessary.
• Home Maintenance: Maintaining hygienic conditions through daily cleaning and minor repairs.

Personal Attention

Focusing on the personal and social well-being of the user through tasks such as:

• Cleanliness and hygiene.
• Control, support, and assistance in food and clothing, favoring personal autonomy.
• Monitoring of medical treatment.
• Support for user mobility, accompanying activities, and entertainment.

Educational Attention

Facilitating the acquisition of basic skills and behavioral habits regarding economic organization, planning, hygiene, coexistence, and integration support.

Sociocommunity Attention

Promoting social and relational life to encourage participation and integration in the community through leisure, cultural, recreational, and sports activities, preventing social isolation and marginalization.

This prevention starts with social support, which is divided into three types:

• Emotional.
• Instrumental or material.
• Informative.