The practice guide of intersectoral teamwork between a police officer and a practitioner

PRESENTATION

The Practice guide of intersectoral teamwork between a police officer and a practitioner is intended for police officers, practitioners and intervenors in both public and community health and social services networks who wish to develop a shared, intersectoral intervention practice that blends their strengths to counter the mistreatment of older adults.

ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION

The project, entitled ‘Bridge Building’ sought to document intersectoral work in countering the mistreatment of older adults. It was inspired by innovative practices in the Northeast region of Montréal.

A group of stakeholders from diverse organisations interested in developing intersectoral practices were the driving force of this research-action project. They included:

• The Montreal Seniors Roundtable,
• The City of Montréal Police Services
• The CSSS (Integrated Health and Social Services Center) Ahuntsic-Montréal Nord.

SAVA, a peer-mentoring project for older adults at the Carrefour Montrose, and the Montréal Regional Conference of Elected Officials also supported the project.

DEVELOPMENT

In 2012, this research-action project was launched thanks to a three-year grant from the Québec ministère de la Famille through its Soutien aux initiatives visant le respect des aînés (SIRA) program. The first year of the project was dedicated to identifying essential elements for an ‘ideal’ intersectoral model and innovative intersectoral practices of the organisations involved with the project. One of these practices was studied in-depth: the pairing of a police officer and a psychosocial intervenor from the public health and social services network (CSSS) or a community organisation. Studies of cases in three territories of the CSSS of Northeast Montréal were conducted in the second and third years of the project. Three types of pairings were followed:

1. One in development
2. A second recently formed and deployed in the field
3. A third at the stage of knowledge transfer to other duos.

Documenting the effectiveness of the pairings in practice was completed through observations, interviews, and the participation of round tables in these two final years.

The analysis of the collected data resulted in proposed directives for intersectoral practice and a work model.

Three documents were published in 2015: a review of the scientific literature on interdisciplinary practice, a research report on the practice model for intersectoral pairings to counter the mistreatment of older adults and a practice guide for police/intervenor duos from the public and community health and social services networks.

The dissemination of this research-action’s results enabled the promotion of this innovative practice model across Québec and inspired other professionals in Canada and internationally.

ACCESS TO THE PRACTICE GUIDE

The three documents published as a result of the Building Bridges project are available for viewing free of charge on the Chair’s website. It is also possible to consult these documents through the following link:

• Interdisciplinary literature review of intersectoral work (Only in French).
• Research report on the intersectoral practice model to counter mistreatment of older adults (Only in French).
• The Practice Guide itself.

For optimal use of the Practice Guide, the Chair recommends its half-day training program. For more information, contact the Chair by e-mail or telephone at 819-780-2022 Extension 45621.

REFERENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRACTICE GUIDE:

References (in French and English) for the practice guide:

• Beaulieu, M., Calvé, J., Loock, J., Diaz, L., Lussier-Therrien, M. et Garon, S. (2015). Lutte contre la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées : pratique en duo intersectoriel policier/intervenant du réseau public ou communautaire du secteur de la santé et des services sociaux. Guide de pratique. Édition mars 2015. Sherbrooke, Québec, Université de Sherbrooke, 30 pages.
• Beaulieu, M., Calvé, J., Loock, J., Diaz, L., Lussier-Therrien, M. et Garon, S. (2015). Countering mistreatment of older adults: The practice of intersectoral teamwork between a police officer and a practitioner from the public or non-profit health and social services network. Practice guide. March 2015 edition. Sherbrooke, Québec, Université de Sherbrooke, 30 pages.