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

lisama@familyservicetoronto.orgwww.familyservicetoronto.org