Article type
Abstract
Background
The Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) is an independent national public body with several missions to advance quality in the fields of health and social care services, including developing evidence-based recommendations. Guidelines were recently developed by the HAS to improve access to health and social care for people experiencing homelessness and living with mental disorders. This entailed putting in place a truly interdisciplinary approach across all sectors involved.
Objectives
To identify the successes and pitfalls of the development of best practices across different sectors and fields and involving a wide array of stakeholders (health professionals, social workers, etc.).
Methods
An independent interdisciplinary working group was put in place to develop the guidelines. It comprised 30 members:
- mental health and psychiatric professionals,
- professionals from the social care sector,
- people with lived experience,
- primary care physicians,
- professionals working in the social housing sector,
- professionals working with people with disabilities,
- representatives of local authorities, and
- experts from various fields.
The views of a wider group of professionals and persons with lived experience and of representatives of the main stakeholders were collected during a consultation phase.
Results
The publication includes:
- an extensive review of the literature (scientific publications including meta-analysis and systematic reviews, grey literature, practices reviews, etc.),
- general guidelines offering cross-cutting best practices, and
- 8 practical tools targeting distinct professions or specific issues.
One key factor of success was the shared awareness of the crucial role of interdisciplinarity and coordination to establish an appropriate system of care for vulnerable populations. One of the major challenges was balancing out interdisciplinary approaches and the identification of the specific responsibilities of each professional and actor (peers, etc.).
Conclusions
The HAS is stepping up its action to implement the best practices by building on the collaborations established during the design phase. Participants will be offered the opportunity to share their own experiences of the interdisciplinary development of best practices across different fields and sectors. The participants will also be invited to offer suggestions for implementing best practices across sectors.
The Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) is an independent national public body with several missions to advance quality in the fields of health and social care services, including developing evidence-based recommendations. Guidelines were recently developed by the HAS to improve access to health and social care for people experiencing homelessness and living with mental disorders. This entailed putting in place a truly interdisciplinary approach across all sectors involved.
Objectives
To identify the successes and pitfalls of the development of best practices across different sectors and fields and involving a wide array of stakeholders (health professionals, social workers, etc.).
Methods
An independent interdisciplinary working group was put in place to develop the guidelines. It comprised 30 members:
- mental health and psychiatric professionals,
- professionals from the social care sector,
- people with lived experience,
- primary care physicians,
- professionals working in the social housing sector,
- professionals working with people with disabilities,
- representatives of local authorities, and
- experts from various fields.
The views of a wider group of professionals and persons with lived experience and of representatives of the main stakeholders were collected during a consultation phase.
Results
The publication includes:
- an extensive review of the literature (scientific publications including meta-analysis and systematic reviews, grey literature, practices reviews, etc.),
- general guidelines offering cross-cutting best practices, and
- 8 practical tools targeting distinct professions or specific issues.
One key factor of success was the shared awareness of the crucial role of interdisciplinarity and coordination to establish an appropriate system of care for vulnerable populations. One of the major challenges was balancing out interdisciplinary approaches and the identification of the specific responsibilities of each professional and actor (peers, etc.).
Conclusions
The HAS is stepping up its action to implement the best practices by building on the collaborations established during the design phase. Participants will be offered the opportunity to share their own experiences of the interdisciplinary development of best practices across different fields and sectors. The participants will also be invited to offer suggestions for implementing best practices across sectors.