Social Worker (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Quebec

City/ Region:

Terrebonne

Description of Initiative:

Hire a social worker (civilian) on a permanent basis.

Initiative Key Objectives:

Increase the effectiveness of social work, reduce recurring cases for police, establish a quicker entry point for referral to social agencies, build stronger partnerships with these agencies, and support victims and families during traumatic events (suicide, sexual assault, etc.).

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Regional surveillance branch

Key Contact:

Michel Grégoire
michel.gregoire@ville.terrebonne.qc.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

  • community groups

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

Information sharing.

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

Since June 2010.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

To reduce patrol officers’ workloads as regards recurring and complex cases requiring expertise in social work.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

$70,000 (one full-time employee)

Method of Implementation:

Pilot project (student internship)

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

The social worker looks after all recurring and complex cases. She can also do the assessments set out in the legislation (Law P-38). The project really frees up the patrol officers, giving them time for other duties.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

Yes

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

Messaging: closer ties with the community (local newspapers and the city’s website, presentation at the UMQ convention (Union of Quebec Municipalities)).

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

  • internal
  • quantitative
  • qualitative

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

Yes

Summary of the Outcomes:

The number of recurring cases handled by patrol officers has fallen dramatically. Complex cases are seen more quickly by the community network. Partnerships with agencies are stronger. We are in the process of studying the possibility of increasing the number of social workers.

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

Further Details:

N/A

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

N/A

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01

Date modified: