Placing our practicum students into an interprofessional education (IPE) practicum without prior course work is an unorthodox idea, however, it was discovered that the road to IPE success is not along a single pathway. This multi-case study explores the experience of seven cohorts of pre-service professionals from the faculties of Education, Nursing, Justice Studies, Kinesiology and Health Studies and Social Work who engaged in a 14-week, full-time interprofessional internship in inner-city schools. Findings suggest that this IPE practicum provided a forum for students to develop sophisticated communication skills and more fully respect the scope and breadth of each other's practice while working towards improving the quality of care for children through interprofessional collaboration. The discussion raises issues related to: the unique challenges of IPE in community-based settings, where lack of mentoring and issues related to "authenticity" emerge; "othering" and the ways in which discourse re-inscribes racist ways of knowing; and the value of co-constructed learning and the need to respond to emerging needs in context rather than in a linear, sequential process. Over two years, it was discovered that a seemingly backward approach to IPE moved our agenda forward in directions we had not anticipated.

This case study provides insight into the ways an interprofessional team developed collaborative competencies to enhance school‐based mental health support for students with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disabilities and mental health illness. The team was anchored by the school division coordinator, two resource teachers, a social worker, and a psychologist. It is also a site for preservice nursing, social work, recreational therapy, and psychology students who were completing their senior practicum in their respective programs. The purpose of this study is to develop a deeper understanding of how preservice and in‐service professionals experience interprofessional collaboration and competency development as a means to support students with dual diagnosis. Interviews were conducted with 21, preservice practicum students and in‐service professionals who participated on the team. Data were recorded, transcribed verbatim and manually aggregated, coded, and themed using two complementary strategies, constant comparison method and initial and focused coding. The Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC) (Gilbert, ) framework helped illuminate the fundamental components, that is, the competencies, needed to be an effective collaborator. The findings suggest that four of the six CIHC competencies, role clarification, student centeredness, communication and team functioning emerged as core competencies. The practicum students described their experience on the team as an enriching way to develop specialized knowledge, skills, and attitudes with students with dual diagnosis and they continue to serve as advocates in their current positions. Reciprocally, the permanent structure of the interprofessional practicum offered a unique professional development strategy for in‐service professionals. This study queries the need to refine the CIHC model for school‐based mental health settings. It is suggested that the model would be enhanced by a greater emphasis on culturally responsible practice and a greater integration of inclusive education competencies for professionals who work with students who have dual diagnosis in schools.

Placing our practicum students into an interprofessional education (IPE) practicum without prior course work is an unorthodox idea, however, it was discovered that the road to IPE success is not along a single pathway. This multi-case study explores the experience of seven cohorts of pre-service professionals from the faculties of Education, Nursing, Justice Studies, Kinesiology and Health Studies and Social Work who engaged in a 14-week, full-time interprofessional internship in inner-city schools. Findings suggest that this IPE practicum provided a forum for students to develop sophisticated communication skills and more fully respect the scope and breadth of each other's practice while working towards improving the quality of care for children through interprofessional collaboration. The discussion raises issues related to: the unique challenges of IPE in community-based settings, where lack of mentoring and issues related to "authenticity" emerge; "othering" and the ways in which discourse re-inscribes racist ways of knowing; and the value of co-constructed learning and the need to respond to emerging needs in context rather than in a linear, sequential process. Over two years, it was discovered that a seemingly backward approach to IPE moved our agenda forward in directions we had not anticipated.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a deeper understanding of how to implement a professional development training strategy for the Adaptive Mentorship (AM) model (Ralph and Walker, 2010a) and explore how cooperating teachers used the model, not only to assist pre-service teachers in their development, but also to reflect on their role as a mentor. Design/methodology/approach – This research design uses a collective case study approach. The researchers are positioned in the study as active agents, not only in the traditional way as administrating a questionnaire but as participant leaders. The questionnaire was designed to collect data on the frequency of use and effectiveness of the AM model. It was sent to cooperating teachers, for two years from two different cohorts (n=141, n=123). Findings – By the end of the second year 84 percent of the cooperating teachers said they “did or mostly did” understand the AM model after the seminar. Less than half of the cooperating teachers (42 percent) recommended that the AM model should be used at seminar. Of the rest, while 21 percent were not in favor of the AM model being used, 37 percent would consider using it at seminar. The findings in this study suggest that for many cooperating teachers the notion of reciprocal development had not yet permeated their consciousness. Originality/value – This study will guide future cooperating teacher professional development sessions to support cooperating teachers as they make the paradigmatic shift from supervisor to mentor. To the knowledge it is the only study that explores the professional development training necessary for implementing the AM model with an entire cohort of interns.

This study explores action research as a professional development strategy to improve interprofessional collaboration in a school division team focused on supporting students with a variety of learning and behavioural needs. Occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, a psychologist, and a social worker worked together to learn more about each other's scopes of practice and overcome challenges to collaboration. Action research provided an effective medium for competency development, particularly in the role clarification and team functioning domains. It also provided space for alternative ways for the researcher to work with the team as a facilitator and contribute to the action research process. In this role the researcher attempted to interrogate the influence of her discursive practices, while highlighting the need for educators to be members of Student Support Services teams.