A clinical practice guide was developed to improve the services provided to people experiencing domestic violence. The document was developed by the CISSS des Laurentides, in collaboration with the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) and the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT). Designed specifically for staff providing adult general psychosocial services (GPS), this guide supports consistent, structured psychosocial support for service recipients. It establishes a definition of intimate partner violence and discusses the specifics of seeking help, preferred intervention approaches, the intervention process and ethical issues specific to this practice. Several clinical tools were also inventoried or created to support responders.

To make sure the guide was properly understood and the new practices would be adopted, GPS staff were offered training and clinical supervision by a trainer specializing in intimate partner violence.

Collaborating with UQAT and UQO helped ensure the project was aligned with an evaluation process. It also allowed for a detailed inventory of GPS needs through various means, such as interviews, thus ensuring that the content was perfectly adapted. Additionally, this approach enabled an analysis of the concrete benefits of the initiative. As a result, evaluations and discussion groups have indicated an improvement in violence detection skills, increased confidence, improved safety planning for victims, and a greater understanding of post-separation violence.

Lead:
Noémie Lacombe, Assistant Director, Outpatient Adult Mental Health Continuum, Psychosocial Services

Contributors:
Annick St-Pierre, Assistant Director, Outpatient Adult Mental Health Continuum, Psychosocial Services
Patricia Ringuette, UQAT Professor
Célyne Lalande, UQO Professor
Antoinette Brunetti, Retired Social Worker and Intimate Partner Violence Trainer
Audrey Larocque, General Psychosocial Services and Cross-Sector Projects Coordinator
Louis Rousseau, Director, Mental Health, Addictions and General Psychosocial Services
Martine Guénette, UQAT Professor
Émilie Contant, Chief Administrative Officer, ESPOIR Regional Program, Regional Mental Health Pathfinder Network Program and Cross-Sector Projects
Mélanie Plouffe, Clinical Coordinator, Crime Victims Support Centre, Laurentian Region
Patrick Brassard, Assistant General Manager, Social, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Programs