For this Case Study, we spoke to:
*Tom was sexually assaulted by his partner and required extensive support from multiple services, including specialist sexual assault, family violence, police and healthcare providers. This case study illustrates the challenges and outcomes of implementing a multidisciplinary practice (MDP) approach to provide care and support to Tom, who faced emotional and physical trauma.
Tom experienced severe injuries from the sexual assault, necessitating surgery, and was referred to an after-hours sexual assault team as part of a hospital crisis care response. He was unfamiliar with the service system and overwhelmed by the number of professionals involved in his care. The complex health system, compounded by his trauma, left Tom feeling stressed and experiencing suicidal thoughts. Additionally, he faced a lengthy waitlist for surgery, which exacerbated his emotional distress.
This case presented several challenges that required immediate attention, including physical injuries from sexual assault that necessitated surgery, emotional distress accompanied by thoughts of suicide, and feelings of overwhelm as a result of having to navigate a complex health and service system. Additionally, there were difficulties in coordinating care across multiple services, compounded by the need to repeatedly recount his traumatic story to various service providers.
An MDP team was formed, including professionals from sexual assault services, family violence, police, general practice, mental health, crisis housing and hospital staff. Care team meetings were established to coordinate support, ensuring clear communication and reducing the need for Tom to retell his story. The approach prioritised Tom’s autonomy, allowing him to choose which services to engage with and which he didn’t wish to engage with.
Care team meetings were implemented to facilitate coordination and streamline communication, ensuring that input from all relevant parties, including those unable to attend, was collected and considered. A client-centred approach was adopted, prioritising Tom’s preferences and consent, which empowered him to make informed decisions about his care. Clear communication among professionals was also emphasised, ensuring that each team member understood their roles and responsibilities. This reduced team members’ confusion and improved the overall delivery of services.
Tom received cohesive support from a well-coordinated team, which significantly reduced the emotional strain of having to repeatedly retell his traumatic story. The collaborative approach led to positive outcomes, characterised by clear processes and effective information sharing among the professionals involved. Tom’s autonomy was respected throughout the process, allowing him to take control of his circumstances and engage with services according to his preferences. The MDP approach also led to a seamless transition between services, ensuring Tom received the necessary support efficiently.
Key features critical to the success of the MDP and outcomes achieved in this case study include:
Centring the voices, interests and choices of victim–survivors across every aspect of service provision.
In this case example, Tom was given the autonomy to choose which services to engage with and had his preferences respected throughout the care process. This centred Tom’s voice and choices for his care, helping to reduce his emotional distress and giving him more control over his recovery journey.
It was about bringing the information together so that everyone had a sense of what the support needs were a lot more clearly rather than this person having to tell the story and this being increasingly disturbing and distressing for them.
Valuing specialist knowledge enhances family safety and wellbeing, while respecting role boundaries improves practitioner satisfaction and retention.
In this case example, the MDP team included specialists from sexual assault, family violence, mental health and healthcare services, each contributing their expertise while respecting professional boundaries. This enhanced the quality of care that Tom received, ensuring both his physical and emotional wellbeing were addressed by experts, while practitioners worked within their specialisations.
For all practitioners, it’s nice to know that there’s someone there because it feels like the service user is getting more support and they are not left trying to kind of do things that you don’t have the time, the ability or the agency to do.
Engaging respectfully with fellow practitioners, valuing diverse professional backgrounds and being open to learning from different perspectives
In this case example, the various professionals involved worked collaboratively, engaging with each other respectfully and valuing the different perspectives brought by diverse disciplines. This fostered a supportive and open environment where learning from one another was prioritised, improving team cohesion and ensuring Tom received well-rounded care.
Clear governance structure, appropriate resources and a shared understanding of roles and processes create a platform for MDP
In this case example, a clear governance structure was established through regular care team meetings, with defined roles and processes for each professional involved in Tom’s case. This framework allowed the team to deliver coordinated support to Tom, minimising confusion and ensuring smooth transitions between services.
Timely and effective exchange of relevant data, insights and knowledge across different professionals involved in supporting the client.
In this case example, the team facilitated timely and efficient sharing of information, ensuring that all professionals had access to the relevant data and insights necessary to support Tom. This allowed for better coordination of care, reduced the need for Tom to repeatedly tell his story and ensured that all providers were working from the same understanding of his needs.
This case illustrates the effectiveness of a well-coordinated MDP approach in delivering client-centred care. The collaborative efforts across specialised services ensured his physical, emotional and legal needs were met. Clear governance, respectful relationships and effective information sharing enhanced service delivery and minimised confusion.
