Community of practice supporting health sector responses to family violence.

Abstract

Background

The health sector is a critical entry point for identifying family violence (FV). Despite this, research indicates poor recognition and underreporting of FV in hospital settings, highlighting the need to increase staff knowledge and skills in identifying, responding and referring. Ballarat Health Services (BHS) is the lead health service in a partnership of seven Grampians regional and rural health services implementing the Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence (SHRFV) initiative; a system wide approach to embedding the practice of identifying and responding to FV in the hospital setting.

Objectives/Aims

The seven health services have established a community of practice (CoP) to support health service implementation of the SHRFV initiative. The aim is to determine the acceptability and feasibility of a CoP to promote best practice implementation of the SHRFV initiative in the Grampians region.

Method

The CoP is a "group of people who share a concern, set of problems, or passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis." Held quarterly for four hours, the CoP provides opportunities for SHRFV Project Leads and Executive Sponsors to network, access resources to improve practice and facilitates the exchange of skills, knowledge and problem solving approaches to implementing the SHRVF initiative. The CoP is evaluated via facilitated reflection and post session surveys.

Results

Three CoP sessions have been held with seventy one percent of health services represented at each session. Initial feedback indicates value in sharing knowledge and devising shared approaches to practice.

Implications/Outcomes for Planned Research Project

Intended implications for practice is the coordinated implementation of the SHRFV initiative, an increase in identification of FV, an effective response and improved referral.

Final Thoughts

The CoP is a multidisciplinary forum connecting health services to inform and improve hospital responses to FV.