“Tabletop” – A Practical Tool for Strengthening Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Barnahus Centers

Centers specializing in judicial hearings and psychological support for child victims of sexual abuse and violence operate on the basis of a fundamental principle: multidisciplinary collaboration. The Barnahus model was developed precisely in response to the fragmentation of interventions, the proliferation of hearings, and the risk of retraumatizing children through contact with insufficiently coordinated institutional systems.

Within these centers, professionals from various fields—law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, child protection, psychology, medicine, education, and social services—are called upon to work together, focusing on the same child and the same situation of abuse. Although procedures, protocols, and standards exist, practice shows that their mere existence does not guarantee effective collaboration. Differences in professional terminology, distinct institutional priorities, the varying pace of legal and social processes, as well as the complex and unpredictable nature of real-life cases can lead to bottlenecks, confusion, or tensions.

In this context, tabletop exercises are an extremely useful tool for strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration. They allow teams to analyze, practice, and improve how they work together in a safe, reflective, and child-centered setting.

What Is a Tabletop Exercise?

A tabletop exercise is a scenario-based simulation conducted through structured discussions among professionals, either around a table or in a shared workspace. It is not an operational or field exercise; it does not require special equipment and does not involve real-time simulations. The focus is on decision-making processes, communication, clarification of roles, and interagency coordination.

In a tabletop exercise, participants do not play fictional roles but assume their own real professional roles. They are invited to respond to situations and dilemmas as they would in their daily practice. The scenario is designed to reflect as faithfully as possible the complexity of cases encountered in centers that work with child victims of abuse.

The essential characteristics of a tabletop exercise include:

active participation by all relevant institutions;
structuring the scenario in successive stages;
the gradual introduction of new information that requires decision-making;
a focus on reflection and learning, rather than on evaluating individual performance;
concluding the exercise with a structured debriefing.
The duration of such an exercise is typically between one and three hours, depending on the established objectives and the complexity of the scenario.

The Relevance of Tabletop Exercises in the Barnahus Context

The Barnahus model places particular emphasis on multidisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration, considering it an essential condition for child protection and the smooth conduct of the judicial process. The Barnahus quality standards emphasize the need for coordination among institutions, joint planning of interventions, and integrated case management.

Tabletop exercises align very well with this paradigm because:

they create a structured space where professionals can reflect on existing practices;
they allow for the identification of discrepancies between written procedures and actual practice;
they facilitate dialogue among institutions that typically communicate primarily through formal documents;
they contribute to building a shared understanding of the child’s journey through the system;
they help maintain a child-centered perspective, even in complex legal situations.
By using tabletop exercises, Barnahus centers can transform multidisciplinary collaboration from a theoretical concept into a real-world practice that is constantly tested and refined.

Designing a tabletop exercise in a Barnahus

Setting Objectives
Any tabletop exercise must begin with clear objectives. These reflect the actual needs of the team and the center. Examples of objectives include:

clarifying the steps taken from the initial report to the child’s hearing;
practicing the planning of the hearing in a multidisciplinary setting;
improving communication between psychologists, police, and prosecutors;
testing how child protection decisions are made;
analyzing the coordination between the judicial process and psychological support.
Well-defined objectives provide direction for the exercise and facilitate the evaluation of results.

Developing the Scenario
The scenario is the central element of the tabletop exercise. It must be realistic, credible, and relevant to the center’s context. Typically, scenarios are inspired by common case types, without replicating identifiable real-life situations.

An effective scenario:

involves a child and a plausible family context;
includes multiple agencies from the initial phase;
is structured in successive stages;
introduces elements of uncertainty or complexity (e.g., ambivalent family reactions, institutional pressures, additional suspicions).
Practical Example of a Tabletop Exercise

Scenario Context

A 10-year-old child provides indirect clues at school regarding concerning situations allegedly taking place at home. The report reaches the authorities, and the child is a potential victim of intrafamilial sexual abuse. There is also suspicion of an online component.

Exercise Procedure

Stage 1 – Report and Team Activation

Participants discuss who receives the report, who has initial responsibility, how the multidisciplinary team is convened, and who communicates with the family.

Stage 2 – Planning the Interview

The team analyzes who participates in planning, how the hearing’s objectives are established, what information is needed, and how the child is protected prior to the hearing.

Stage 3 – The Hearing and Medical Evaluation

The group discusses organizing the judicial hearing, coordinating the medical evaluation, addressing potential evidence, and providing emotional support to the child.

Stage 4 – Short- and Medium-Term Intervention

Participants develop an integrated plan for protection, psychological support, and monitoring, clarifying the responsibilities of each institution.

Debriefing – The Essential Component of the Exercise

After the scenario is completed, the exercise continues with a structured debriefing. This stage is essential for transforming the exercise into a real tool for organizational learning.

During the debriefing, the following are analyzed:

what worked well in terms of collaboration;
where bottlenecks or ambiguities arose;
which procedures need to be adjusted;
what specific changes are necessary;
who is responsible for implementing them.
The results of the debriefing can be incorporated into the revision of interagency protocols and professional training plans.

Benefits of Tabletop Exercises for Professionals and Institutions

For professionals, tabletop exercises provide a space for shared reflection and learning, reducing interagency tensions and misunderstandings. For institutions, they help clarify roles, streamline processes, and improve the quality of interventions.

Ultimately, the primary beneficiary is the child, who receives a coherent, coordinated, predictable, and less traumatic intervention.

Tabletop exercises are a valuable tool for centers working with child victims of abuse, particularly within the Barnahus model. They facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration, translate standards into living practice, and contribute to the development of a professional culture based on reflection, shared responsibility, and a focus on the child’s needs.

Bibliography:

Barnahus Network (2023). Multidisciplinary Teamwork Training: Practical Methods for Interagency Collaboration.

Barnahus Network (2020). Barnahus Quality Standards – Guidance and Tools for Multidisciplinary and Interagency Practice.

Article by Diana Munteanu, clinical psychologist & psychotherapist, Barnahus Center