building consultation teams lisa manuel, phd family service toronto national elder abuse conference...
TRANSCRIPT
Building Consultation Teams
Lisa Manuel, PhD Family Service Toronto
National Elder Abuse ConferenceNovember 4, 2009
Goals of Presentation
1. Review development of consultation team
2. Ensuring success
3. Overview of FST team process
4. Addressing confidentiality and privacy issues
5. Key challenges
6. Key outcomes and celebrations
7. Talk, discuss, network
History• 1997 – First meeting in Toronto to explore concept• 1998 – 1999 – Grant applications • 2000 – Development work funded internally • 2001 – Orientation meeting• 2002 – First consultation meeting• 2009 – Seventh consecutive year
Development Process
• Research in other jurisdictions• Survey of organizations• Development of policy manual• Focus groups • Invitations to join team
Ensuring Success• One identified lead organization and person• Highly supportive organization• Committed team members/ambassadors• Goals and principles agreed to and followed• Defined intake process• Clear ground rules about who participates• Confidentiality and privacy issues respected
Ensuring Success cont’d
• Ongoing updates to community • Quick turn around with respect to requests for
consultation• Respected leaders as members• Voices of survivors and senior volunteers• Widespread and ongoing publicity• Support for follow-up
Mission of EACT
To consult on cases involving the abuse of older adults in order to suggest options to improve their life situations.
Goals of EACT• Provide a forum for people working with older adults
experiencing abuse to consult on situtions they are working with
• Provide support between meetings• Develop statistical profiles • Report on activities to stakeholders• Track results of suggested options to develop evidence-
based outcomes
Key Principles• Confidentiality• Anonymity • Self-determination• Maximization of options• Least intrusive alternative • Involvement of abused older adult in carrying out
suggested• Cultural sensitivity
Membership• Alzheimer Society• Assistant Crown Attorney• CCAC (Home Care)• Community based social
work/community support agency
• Hospital based social worker with geriatric expertise
• Housing• Mental health and addictions• Psycho-geriatrician• Senior Volunteers• Student Interns• Survivors• Victim Services• Violence Against Women
sector
Commitment
• Letter of understanding• Available three hours per months plus travel• Monthly schedule• Signatures• Consultation in between meetings• Confidentiality
Types of Cases Reviewed
• Complex• Multiple types of abuse occurring• Ethical dilemma• Specialized expertise required• Refusal of service→ Cases at any point of engagement
Who utilizes the team?
• Two possible ways to focus team– Team members only– Open to team and community
Intake Form
• One page overview • Strategies attempted to date and outcome• Kind of advice requested from team• Demographic information
Structure of Case Presentations
• Introductions• Ground rules• Brief overview• Clarifying questions• Suggested options• Follow up
Role of Team Leader• Coordination of meetings• Recruitment of team members• Securing cases for review• Screening for conflict of interest• Minute taking• Community resource• Evaluation• Developing educational sessions
Role of Team Members
• Confidentiality• Best interest of client• Interim consultations• Commitment to team• Ambassadors in community• Provide advice
Working with Privacy Issues
• No names• Identifying information changed • Reviewing ground rules• Confidentiality vs. privacy• Knowing the legislation
Key Outcomes
• Consultations • Newsletters• Educational sessions• Best practice manual• Conference
presentations
• Partnerships • Research• Student training• Senior Moments Project• Highly valued by
members and presenters
Challenges
• Case finding• Advocacy problematic for some members• Lack of funding• Multiple networks• Varying understandings of privacy issues
Celebrations
• 100+ consultations to date• Three newsletters• Best Practice Manual• Grant to work across sectors• Pat’s Place developed• Multiple conference presentations
Celebrations cont’d
• Resource to other communities• Student training (international and local)• Robust data set• Information sheet for Provincial government on safety planning• “Go to” forum• Team cohesion and commitment in an exeptionally busy world
Contact Information - NEWLisa Manuel
Director,Changing Lives and Family Violence Program
Family Service Toronto416 595 4049