Multi-professional work practices in the field of immigrant integration – examples of collaboration between the police and social work

Abstract

Development of the professional competences and work practices are required when promoting successful immigrant integration in a constantly diversifying society. One work method applied in this field is multi-professional collaboration. Cooperation between the authorities at the local level reduces the overlap between services and brings together expertise and resources, resulting in not only added value but also more proactive and less costly service.  Thus, collaboration can involve actors from various sectors, like NGOs or ethnic minority communities. In this article examples of collaboration in two different multi-ethnic contexts are introduced: first, in school and second, in a suburb. The focus here is especially on the joint work practices of the police and social work besides the other actors in these two surroundings. Despite the differences in their work orientation, mutual aims and practices are found. Collaboration between the police and social work is valued not just in facing problematic situations, but also in emerging environments where the host society and immigrants can exchange their views and expand common strategies for an active interaction and coexistence.