Written Service Contracts

Purpose: To provide direction and focus during intervention

Discussion: Arriving at an agreement on the service to be provided by the worker and used by the client is fundamental to social work practice. In most cases and in most agencies and programs, a verbal agreement is sufficient. However, many social workers use written service contracts (or service agreements) in their work with clients. This is true in a public agency and in the field of child welfare, developmental disabilities, and probation and parole. Some providers of psychotherapy and other mental services also use written contracts as means of reducing the possibility of serious misunderstanding and malpractice suit.

             A written service contract  is a document that specifies the desired outcome of the service(s) to be provided, the key actions that will be taken to achieve this outcome, and the major roles and responsibilities of those involved in this effort. Included in this contract are the relevant timelines. Typically, the document is signed by the client and service provider(s). The core elements of a contract.

            Except in those cases in which the contract is written into a court order, a service contract is not reviewed as legally binding. However, it is intended to describe a clear commitment to pursue a mutually agreed upon course of action. While the authors prefer the term service contract, other practitioners or agencies may use the term service agreement, case plan, treatment plan, intervention plan, or family support plan when referring to this type of document. Often these terms are used interchangeably.

            A service contract should answer the following questions:

What is the desired outcome of the worker’s and/or agency’s service to the client?

What is to be done by the client? By when?

What is to be done by the client’s significant others (i.e.  family, friends, neighbours, etc.)? By when?

What is to be done by the worker and the other agency staff? By when?

What events will trigger a reassessment of the client’s situation and/or a revision of the service contract?

What are the consequences, if any, for not adhering to the plan?