Interprofessional.Global, the Global Confederation for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice, facilitates support and exchange between regional interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) networks, establishes relationships with other like-minded organisations and welcomes and supports new networks sharing the same aims and values. It also selects institutions to host future All Together Better Health (ATBH) conferences, overseeing the work of local planning committees, maintenance of standards and evaluation.
The ATBH conferences are driven by the conviction that by learning together we improve working together to effect change, enhance quality of care, ensure safety and optimise deployment of human resources. Delegate numbers have increased year on year, as has the involvement of students and service users. The conference content demonstrates the steady growth of IPECP in terms of evidence base and significance to health care.
Interprofessional.Global also provides a forum for the growing number of national and transnational IPECP networks to share their work and debate common issues and has been a proving ground for the development of a global network, first InterEd and from 2012 the World Coordinating Committee and now Interprofessional.Global: The Global Confederation for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice.
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- General purpose
- Legal status and organisational structure
- Operational Objectives and envisaged Key Results for 2021-2023
- Partnership development principles
- Download Hugh Barr’s “Interprofessional Education: Genesis of a Movement”
General purpose
Interprofessional.Global facilitates support and exchange between the interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) networks, establishes relationships with other like-minded organisations and welcomes and supports new networks sharing the same aims and values. It also selects institutions to host future All Together Better Health (ATBH) conferences, overseeing the work of local planning committees, maintenance of standards and evaluation.
Vision
Better health for all through interprofessional education, practice and research
Mission
To serve as agents of change in providing global leadership to advocate for, collaborate on, promote, develop, and research IPECP innovation.
Objectives
The objectives of the Confederation are:
- To develop a strong confederation to serve the international IPECP movement,
- To increase awareness of IPECP through effective communication and the visibility of Interprofessional.Global,
- To inform IPECP policy development,
- To provide information on the global status of IPECP
- To support interprofessional development for individuals and regional networks, including the biennial All Together Better Health conferences (ATBH),
- To develop and provide a data repository, and
- To obtain funding ensuring the sustainability of Interprofessional.Global.
Legal status and organisational structure
Interprofessional.Global, a registered Dutch association, is organised by complementary working groups. The activities of these working groups are coordinated by the Partnership Development Working Group. This specific working group includes representative from each affiliated network (Members of the Association), Board Members of the Association, and the Working Group facilitators.
Name of association:
Interprofessional.Global
RSIN or fiscal code:
863065028
Contact adress:
Petrus Driessenstraat 3 t.a.v. Jeannette Bult, 9714CA Groningen, The Netherlands
Main objective:
Global confederation for interprofessional education and collaboration.
Names and positions of board members:
- Chair: Johanna Dahlberg (Lena Johanna Cecilia Lovisa Dahlberg)
- Vice chair: Champion Nyoni (Champion Nestai Nyoni)
- Secretary: Loes van Amsterdam (Elisabeth Johanna Louise Maria van Amsterdam)
- Deputy secretary: Jan-Jaap Reinders (Jan Jaap Reinders)
- Treasurer: Freek Bronda (Fredrik Justus Bronda)
Interprofessional.Global is formed from:
- Regional Networks:
- Africa: AfrIPEN
- Australasia: AIPPEN
- Canada: CIHC
- German-speaking countries: IP-Health
- Indian subcontinent: IndIPEN
- Scandinavia: Nipnet
- South & Central America & Caribbean: REIP
- United Kingdom: CAIPE
- United States of America: AIHC
- Emerging Networks:
- Arab-speaking countries
- Asia Pacific: APIPECnet
- Dutch-speaking countries
Representatives from these Regional Networks form the Members (General Meeting) of the Association.
Remuneration policy:
None – voluntary work
Operational Objectives and envisaged Key Results for 2021-2023
The objectives and key results for (2021 – 2023) is aimed at further developing and perfecting the internal organisation of this association and its external contacts. The key results of all other complementary Interprofessional.Global working groups as follows.
1. Capacity Development Working Group
- To design an approach to build capacity among regional networks (including organising Global Cafes)
- To determine the capacity development needs at regional /individual related to IPECP
- Develop a platform for sharing resources related to capacity development
2. Communication Working Group
- To develop a communication strategy
- Update the website regularly (monthly)
- To communicate developments using social media
- To respond to email communication with Interprofessional.Global
3. Evaluation Working Group
- To identify a theoretical framework to guide the evaluation process
- To compile existing evaluation matrices
- To share and decide on methodology
- To develop an evaluation protocol
- To submit the evaluation protocol to the Partnership Development Working Group
4. Global Impact Working Group
- To ensure that the Winterthur declaration is endorsed by all the regional networks of the organization
- To disseminate the Winterthur declaration to international health and social care stakeholder organizations to inform a practical framework with appropriate guidance for implementation across contexts
- To organize and tailor the Interprofessional.Global influence and promotion effort using the recognized international policy framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and political language
- To curate and create resources that create narratives/stories around IPECP for education and advocacy efforts in the regional networks
- To develop a global advocacy action plan for Interprofessional.Global
Principles of a consensus-based partnership followed by the confederation
Working interprofessionally in partnership reflects the unity we see in working with, for, and between service providers and service users. Partnership is one important way to demonstrate to the world the unity of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach to health and social care. The following principles have been observed as significant in the development of effective partnerships, principles which are wholly consistent with IPECP. An adherence to these principles is much more likely to result in the establishment of an effective and sustainable IPECP partnership.
- Effective partners share openly with one another in all they do
Partners are empowered and refreshed by sharing knowledge, experience, and approaches with one another; listening to and learning from one another; and supporting and caring for one another’s personal needs, as well as for the work.
- Effective partnerships have a facilitator or a facilitation team
Partnership does not just happen. It takes a person or a team of committed people acceptable to all the partners to facilitate the work of the partnership, who serve the whole partnership, enabling it to function effectively.
- Effective partnerships have a clear purpose
Only a partnership that is formed to fulfil a specific vision is likely to be effective. Partnership for partnership’s sake spells failure.
- Effective partnerships identify needs before shaping structure
An effective partnership starts by identifying barriers to progress and from these agrees on priorities for action; it does not start by trying to establish conditions for membership or write a common Statement of Incorporation. Function (what the partnership can do) should always come before form (how the partnership is structured). Consensus is usually better than constitution.
- Effective partnerships have clear, well-defined objectives
Initially, these will be limited and must be achievable. However, they must also be significant enough to provide motivation for partnering. As the partnership experiences progress, the objectives can become more challenging.
- Effective partners keep their eyes on the ultimate vision
It is easy to focus on the “means” rather than the “end”. An effective partnership focusses on the long-term vision and what should be achieved to reach that end goal. It is important not to get distracted by maintaining the structure.
- Effective partnerships are built on relationships of trust, openness and mutual concern
Partnership is more than coordination and planning. The heart of partnership is strong and effective relationships demonstrated in action. Developing such relationships requires time and intentional effort. Effective partners are especially sensitive towards those from cultures and backgrounds other than their own.
- Effective partnerships focus on what the partners have in common rather than on what makes them different
Unity is encouraged by sharing things of the heart, like vision, values, and common goals. Discussing differences in philosophy, history and work experience, divides. However, it is important to acknowledge – even celebrate – these differences at times.
- Effective partnerships maintain a high level of participation and ownership by the partners
Ownership and commitment to the process of effective partnering is encouraged by wide participation of all the partners in decision-making.
- Effective partnerships impart the vision and skills for partnership development to all the partners continuously
It is important for partners to catch the vision for partnership and develop skills in partnering. This may include skills in partnership development and reinforcing the vision and goals of the partnership when the partnership meets. An effective partnership expects problems, especially at times of leadership change, and develops processes for managing them.
- Effective partnerships do not come free of charge
Just participating in a partnership costs time and money, so all partners are investing in some way. Deeper commitment involves an even greater investment, but the benefits more than outweigh these costs.
- Effective partners recognise that partnership is an on-going process, not an event
The early stages of developing a partnership take time. Call a meeting too soon and the process is likely to fail. The development of trust is essential before the potential partners come together. Once established, time for nurturing trust and processing issues is equally important. It is even more challenging to maintain a partnership than to launch one!
- Effective partners recognise that they have various constituencies whose needs must be acknowledged and whose contributions must be valued
There are more people and interests involved in a partnership than those sitting around the table. These include those who serve and support the partnership, the leaders and staff of the partner organisations, the people and entities the partnership is seeking to serve (users and providers of health and social services, systems for health, etc.), and the partnership itself. Effective partners understand the needs of each of these groups and seek to meet them. They also acknowledge and value the contributions each make.
- Effective partners celebrate
It is important for partners to frequently celebrate the achievements of the partnership as a whole, as well as those of individual partners.
- Effective partners have an ‘advocate’ for partnership in their own organisation
This is a person who sees how their own organisation can benefit from practical cooperation and who will share this vision with colleagues. Without such a person, the commitment of the organisation to the partnership is likely to be half-hearted at best.
- Effective partners have clear identities and visions
Partners who have a strong sense of their own identity, vocation, and calling are likely to be most effective. If the individual partners do not have a clear vision for their own organisation, they will have difficulty seeing what they can contribute to the overall partnership or how they can benefit from the joint effort.
Interprofessional.Global is serious about successful partnering with others. We therefore keep these principles in mind as we work with others to achieve the vision and objectives. Following these principles will enhance our likelihood of partnership being successful.