Occupational Therapist as socioeducational measures executor in open environment: speechs to practice construction

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational therapist practice in the socioeducational measures field involving infractors adolescents is a rare subject discussed in academic studies. Objective: This study aimed to map the occupational therapists and their work on socioeducational measures in semi open environment in São Paulo State. Method: Through the mapping of socioeducational measures services in São Paulo State in cities with populations of 100 thousand habitants and above, it was possible to identify eight occupational therapists. We applied semi structured interviews with all of them, five of them took part in a focal group, which intended to reflect about their professional practice in a collective and deepen way. The main interviews points of discussion were: “bond”, “view” and “activity”. Results: As results, we verified that there is a lack of definition for the “bond” and “view” concepts by the professionals which is understood by them as occupational therapists singularities, with several meanings. As for specificity of actions in occupational therapy practice, the activity use is central in collaborator’s speeches, as an instrument of practice mediation and conduction, considering adolescents’ demands as an important guide of professional acting. Conclusion: We concluded that there are no theoretical and methodological boundaries from the specificity of occupational therapy practice in this field. Otherwise, the presented results offer some leads, as the occupational therapy practice in socioeducational measures is a developing field, as it is low represented by a small amount of professionals and several speeches are reported by them in their daily routine.