Interagency Information Sharing Protocol (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Nunavut

City/ Region:

Nunavut

Description of Initiative:

The Departments of Health and Social Services and Justice, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will pilot an information sharing protocol in three communities, so that agencies in the communities can feel comfortable in sharing information focused on preventing and reducing suicide.

The RCMP will take the lead in the communities of Pond Inlet, Kimmirut and Iqaluit to bring together appropriate agencies to use the protocol in dealing with the issue of suicide.

Initiative Key Objectives:

The initiative has several objectives:

• enable government and other community agencies to share information to reduce suicide through a coordinated and collaborative approach within the context of the government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan;
• provide government and RCMP frontline workers with a structure which enables them to share information about clients to help prevent suicide and harm; and
• respect and maintain confidentiality of personal information—this is a priority and the protocol sets out strict guidelines for when sharing personal information is appropriate and ensures that it is used when there is an urgent and or perceived risk.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Criminal Operations

Key Contact:

Hilton Smee
Hilton.smee@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

• other government departments/agencies

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

The RCMP’s involvement was and is consultative and cooperative in implementing the protocol.

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

The initiative will be implemented in January 2013.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

This was started due to the high incidence of suicide in the territory.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

No

Method of Implementation:

It will be implemented in three communities as noted above. The RCMP detachment commanders will take the lead in bringing together agencies to focus on preventing suicide through collaboration. The pilot will run for three months and identify operational requirements for succesful territory-wide implementation.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

Frontline workers will be able to share information about clients so that they can prevent suicide or harm.

An appropriate structure is in place to facilitate the implementation of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

No

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

N/A

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

• qualitative

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

No

Summary of the Outcomes:

N/A

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

• New Models of Community Safety

Further Details:

N/A

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

N/A

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01