Collaboration with police officers within a partial hospital program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Criminology
• Mental Health Services

Background:

• An urban community mental health center experienced an incident of violence, necessitating enhanced security measures.
• City police officers were engaged for extra-duty coverage at a satellite program, creating an interprofessional environment.
• Initial ambiguity existed regarding the distinct roles and responsibilities of clinical staff and police officers in managing patient dyscontrol.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the collaborative experience between clinical staff and police officers over one year.
• To identify the challenges and advantages of integrating police into a community mental health setting.
• To present a conceptual framework for an interprofessional system involving law enforcement and mental health services.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative description of the evolving relationship between clinical staff and police over a 12-month period.
• Analysis of the phases of collaboration and their impact on functional expectations.
• Development of a conceptual framework based on the observed interprofessional dynamics.

Main Results:

• The collaboration progressed through three distinct phases over the year.
• The relationship evolved from unclear expectations to a mutually supportive and beneficial partnership.
• The integration of police officers addressed security concerns while contributing to patient management.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional collaboration between law enforcement and mental health services can be successfully developed.
• Clarifying roles and responsibilities is crucial for effective collaboration in managing patient dyscontrol.
• This model offers a beneficial framework for enhancing safety and support within community mental health settings.