​This purpose of this policy is to ensure that there is a plan to deal with any serious occurrence, which may affect the health and safety of individuals or of the premises.

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POLICY

Definitions of Serious Occurrences:

1. Any serious injury to a child while in attendance at the centre; resulting from abuse, accident, medical, or non-accidental causes. Abuse includes physical harm, malnutrition, or mental ill health which if not remedied could seriously impair growth and development, or result in permanent injury or death; or, sexual molestation.

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2. All deaths of children in care including death resulting from abuse, accident, medical or non-accidental causes.

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3. All allegations and accusations of abuse or mistreatment of children in care including injuries complained of by children where abuse or mistreatment by staff is suspected. In addition, this would include situations where injuries are caused by neglect of the caregiver.

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4. Grievances made by or about children in care involving inappropriate use of Behaviour Management Policy.

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5. Complaints made about operational and or physical standards of the program when judged to be of serious nature, e.g. Fire safety, Hygiene, Staff Rations, etc.

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6. All allegations and accusations against staff, volunteers, parents, field placement students and temporary caregivers of children, when judged to be of serious nature by the Program Supervisor (including those attributable to the use of specific clinical techniques, apparatus of facilities of a clinical or educational nature).

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7. All disasters such as fire, flooding, or adverse water reports in the child care centre.

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8. All cases involving a major public breach of confidentiality, e.g. improper or unauthorized release of records.

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SERIOUS OCCURRENCE PROCEDURES

1. The child shall be provided with immediate medical attention when warranted.

2. The staff or any other witnessing or having knowledge of the occurrence shall orally report the occurrence immediately to the Executive Director or designate.

3. The Executive Director or designate notified will conduct a preliminary inquiry immediately.

4. All persons having knowledge of the occurrence will remain at the program location until they are excused by the Executive Director or designate conducting the preliminary inquiry.

5. The preliminary report shall be written and signed by the Executive Director or designate before staff involved goes off duty.

6. The Executive Director or designate notifies the Chair Person of the Board of Directors of the incident immediately.

7. The Executive Director or designate will contact the Ministry of Education by Fax (705-812-5396) or email Childcare_Barrie@Ontario.ca within 24 hours, and the Child Care Coordinator at the York Region Board of Education. If the child involved in the incident is on fee assistance, the Children's Services Division of the Regional Municipality of York or the County of Simcoe will be contacted immediately as well.

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Where applicable and possible after consultation with the Ministry, contact Police, Children's Aid Society or a Coroner.

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The Ontario government has introduced a new policy that requires licensed child care centres to post information about serious occurrences that happen at a centre effective November 1st, 2011. To support increased transparency and access to information, a "Serious Occurrence Notification Form" must be posted at the centre location in a visible area for 10 days.

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ON-SITE PROCEDURES

For any accident which occurs on a field trip an accident form must be completed by the staff member who witnessed the accident.

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The staff member who witnessed the accident is responsible for making the parent(s) aware of the occurrence and insuring that the accident form is signed by the parent(s).

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In the event of a major accident where it is judged by the Executive Director or designate that a trip to the hospital is required, the following procedure will apply:

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a) Take the child to the nearest hospital by ambulance.

b) Supervisor or designate will contact parent(s) to meet the child and staff at the hospital.

c) Supervisor or designate will meet staff at the hospital with child's file.

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Staff will not leave the centre without "Emergency File Cards" for each child.

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OPERATIONAL STANDARDS

With complaints made about operational and/or physical standards of the centre, when judged to be of serious nature, e.g., Fire Safety, Hygiene, Staff Ratios, Adverse Water Reports etc., the Program Advisor at MEDU, the Chair Person of the Board of Directors, the Child Care Co-ordinator at the York Region Board of Education and the Children's Services Department of the Regional Municipality of York or County of Simcoe should be notified immediately.

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The Executive Director or designate completes the Report of Serious Occurrence.

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For all other definitions of serious occurrences listed in this policy, the Executive Director or designate contacts the Chair Person of the Board of Directors, the Child Care Co-ordinator at the York Region Board of  Education. Ministry of Education, the Program Advisor decides whether an investigation is to be carried out by the Ministry.

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The Executive Director or designate completes the Report of Serious Occurrence.

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ENHANCED SERIOUS OCCURRENCE REPORTING PROCEDURES

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Enhanced Serious Occurrence Reporting procedures will be followed when emergency services (i.e. police, fire and/or ambulance) are used in response to a significant incident involving a client of the Ministry of Education, and/or the incident is likely to result in significant public or media attention. 

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