We Welcome Your Feedback

(Consultation Feedback Requested by January 16, 2019)

November 15, 2018

The College is seeking your feedback on proposed changes to our Registration Regulation. 

Why are we changing the registration regulation?

In order to facilitate labour mobility across provinces, CASLPO is working with the Canadian Alliance of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulators (CAASPR) to harmonize the registration requirements of audiologists and speech-language pathologists across the country.  To align CASLPO's registration requirements with the other regulated provinces, it is necessary to amend our current Registration Regulations (i.e. Ontario Regulation 21/12).

3 AMENDMENTS FOR HARMONIZATION:

1. NATIONAL EXAMINATION

CAASPR is developing a competency-based, entry-to-practice registration examination for all applicants.  

Consequently, our draft Registration Regulation must include a requirement for the successful completion of a national examination.

2. EVALUATION OF COURSE AND PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS BY THIRD PARTY

CAASPR is developing a centralized application assessment process for audiology and speech-language pathology regulators across Canada. 

Our draft Registration Regulation allows for the evaluation of course and practicum requirements by a third party, which would be CAASPR, to accommodate a centralized application assessment process.

3. COURSE AND PRACTICUM STANDARDS SET BY THIRD PARTY

The audiology and speech-language pathology regulators across Canada have agreed to harmonize their assessment of programs that are not accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Canadian University Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CACUP).  

The harmonized application assessment process includes an Academic Equivalency Framework (AEF) approved by the College and the regulators from other provinces across Canada.  The AEF consists of both academic components and clinical practicum components, which closely align with the College's current Regulation.  The academic components specify minimum hours of coursework, covering specific content, including normal and disordered hearing, communication and swallowing functions.

Our draft Registration Regulation allows for the course and practicum standards for applicants who graduate from non-accredited Canadian programs and international programs to be set by a third party (i.e. CAASPR). As members of CAASPR, the College will always have input into the AEF.  Again, however, the wording allows for the Registration Committee to conduct this analysis should they have reasons to not avail themselves of this.

Other significant Amendments

4. CONSISTENT CURRENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERAL MEMBERS

A "currency requirement" is a requirement for recent experience that demonstrates that a member's skills and patient care or related work experience is up-to-date.

Presently, the currency requirement for applicants applying for a general certificate differs from the currency requirement for general members maintaining their certificate.

Our draft Registration Regulation aligns these requirements so that "providing 750 hours of patient care or related work in audiology or speech-language pathology…" (which is the requirement for our General members) would be required to issue a general certificate of registration to an applicant.

In addition, the requirement for 2 years of professional experience would be reduced to 6 months in order to better align with the requirements of labour mobility applicants.

5. CONSISTENT CONSEQUENCES IF CURRENCY REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET

When looking at the consequences if currency requirements are not met, the Registration Committee made a distinction between the following applicants:

1. Applicants who have LESS than 6 months of professional experience and HAVE NOT provided at least 750 hours of patient care or related work in another jurisdiction in the last three years;
2. Applicants who have MORE than 6 months of professional experience but HAVE NOT provided 750 hours of patient care or related work in another jurisdiction in the last three years.

In order to determine what the best "tool" was for addressing those who lacked currency while remaining consistent for new members and current members, the Registration Committee considered what each tool afforded (see below).

Mentorship

Applicant learns standards (both common and Ontario specific) and have support while they integrated them into practice. It assumes the applicant is a novice to the professional world and emerging competencies. Expires in 6 months but can be extended up to 18 months with the Registrar's approval. There is not a mechanism for remediation or referral to ICRC for noncompliance or incompetence. Can deny a General Certificate.

Peer Assessment

Ensures that an applicant is current with clinical knowledge (learning goals) and knows and applies the current standards. It assumes the applicant is a professional with practical experience. Allows for remediation. A process is available for referring uncooperative or incompetent members to ICRC, which provides further opportunity for remediation, or referral to Discipline.

With these distinctions in mind, the Registration Committee determined that ideally, applicants who have worked in the field for a significant period of time should be directed to a peer assessment and those who are essentially new graduates should be directed into a mentorship.

The regulation amendments do just that. Those applicants who have worked less than 6 months will be granted an initial certificate and undergo a mentorship period.  Those with 6 months of work but not 750 hours of patient care will also be granted a general certificate but will be directed to undergo a peer assessment.

Note that those applicants applying through labour mobility, who already have been granted a general certificate by another regulated province pose a different challenge. CASLPO must grant them the same certificate (general). However, if those applicants lack the 750 hours, they will be directed to undergo a peer assessment.

6. DISCONTINUATION OF TEACHING CERTIFICATE

A Teaching certificate of registration is available to any applicant who has been invited to teach or conduct research by one of the institutions specified in the current regulation for no more than one year.

The teaching certificate has rarely been issued by CASLPO.  In fact, the last time a teaching certificate was requested and issued was 18 years ago.

The information gathered from other colleges reveals that most colleges do not issue a teaching certificate and the colleges that do issue a similar certificate only issue a small number of certificates annually.  In light of this information, the teaching certificate does not appear to be necessary or relevant for professionals in the province of Ontario and consequently, the Registration Committee concluded that it should be discontinued.

7. SUSPENSION PROVISIONS

These were added to address common scenarios not addressed by the current regulation. They also provide a tool for those situations that are posing a risk to patients, specifically members who are practicing without professional liability insurance and members practicing without a mentor, when their certificate of registration requires a mentor. You will note that the additional suspension powers were intentionally worded to allow for discretion by the Registrar ("may" as opposed to "shall") and are intended to be applied as a last resort.

8. OTHER ISSUES

Also included in the draft Registration Regulation are a number of small changes to provide clarity for the administration of the Regulation.

How Do I Provide My Feedback?

For the next 60 days, the College's draft Proposed Registration Regulation Amendment is being circulated for feedback from members and stakeholders.  Prior to finalizing the proposed changes, the Council will consider all comments, keeping in mind CASLPO's mandate to serve and protect the public interest.

Please take a few minutes to review the 3-column chart that sets out the existing Regulation, the proposed amendments and a rationale for the change and provide your feedback via a short anonymous survey.

Link to Draft Registration Regulation Amendments

Link to Survey

Consultation with you the members, the public, the universities, hearing and speech organizations, and other Colleges is an important part of the College's regulation development process.

The deadline for survey completion is: January 16, 2019.

Thank you in advance for your contribution.

(Consultation Feedback Requested by December 3, 2018)

November 1, 2018

You have the opportunity to have your say about the Draft Conflict of Interest Standards ("Standards"). The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee has developed these Standards to replace the Proposed Conflict of Interest Regulation, 1996 in order to:           

• simplify and clarify the definitions of conflicts of interest
• simplify the language overall
• allow for flexibility as the context in which members are practicing changes
• speak to both professions adequately

The four proposed standards are meant to address and expand upon the areas initially covered by the proposed Regulation, including:

• prohibitions against conferring and/or receiving a benefit for referrals
• the duty to resolve conflicts of interest appropriately
• restrictions against employment by someone you supervise
• the requirement to not enter into agreements that limit professional judgment

As with all CASLPO documents that are reviewed, you may collect CLACs for the time spent evaluating the Standards and completing the survey.

Please read the Standards and then take the 3 minute survey.

Link to Draft Conflict of Interest Standards

Link to Survey

The deadline for survey completion is: December 3, 2018.

Thank you. We value your feedback.

(Consultation Feedback Requested by – September 30, 2018)

This message is being forwarded to you on behalf of the Canadian Alliance of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulators (CAASPR), of which this College is a member.

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Survey:

The Canadian Alliance of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Regulators (CAASPR) is disseminating a survey in both English and French to determine nationally how many speech language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists are involved in the provision of medical assistance in dying, and in what capacity. The survey also asks questions about members' knowledge of the federal legislation, conscientious objection and the MAID process, as well as the type of information and guidance that is needed. The results will help inform CAASPR and the individual colleges about the numbers of SLPs and audiologists involved in this sensitive area of practice and the type of guidance that would be beneficial to help members and protect the public.
Thank you, in advance, for completing the survey.

Sondage sur l'aide médicale à mourir (AMAM)

L'Alliance canadienne des organismes de réglementation en orthophonie et en audiologie (ACOROA) mène un sondage bilingue à l'échelle du pays afin de déterminer combien d'orthophonistes et d'audiologistes participent à l'aide médicale à mourir et dans quel rôle. Le sondage contient également des questions afin d'établir la connaissance des membres concernant les lois fédérales, l'objection de conscience et le processus d'aide médicale à mourir ainsi que le type d'information et de soutien dont ils ont besoin. Les résultats aideront à renseigner l'ACOROA et les organismes de réglementation individuels sur le nombre d'audiologistes et d'orthophonistes qui participent à ce domaine de pratique délicat et la meilleure façon de les guider et de protéger le public.

Merci d'avance de remplir le sondage.

MAID Survey EN, click here.
AMAM Survey FR, click here.

Brian O'Riordan
CASLPO Registrar

(Consultation Feedback Requested by May 11, 2018)

This is your opportunity to have your say regarding the College's practice standards.

Council has approved the Practice Standards for Cerumen Management for member response. All feedback will be considered prior to the Council approving the final document.

Link to Draft Practice Standards

Link to Survey:
(Less than 5 minutes to complete after reading the Practice Standards)

As with the review of all CASLPO documents, you may collect CLACs (Continuous Learning Activity Credits) on your Self Assessment Tool (SAT) for evaluating this document and completing the survey. 

The deadline for survey completion is  May 11th, 2018.

Thank you.  We value your feedback.

Samidha Joglekar
Audiology Advisor & Manager of Mentorship

Alex Carling
Director of Professional Practice and Quality Assurance

(Consultation Feedback Requested by April 30, 2018)

This is your opportunity to have your say regarding the College's practice standards.

Council has approved the Guide for the Provision of Second Opinions for member response. All feedback will be considered prior to the Council approving the final document.

Link to Document:  Click here

Link to Survey: Click here

(approximately 6 minutes to complete after reading the Guide)

As with the review of all CASLPO documents, you may collect CLACs for evaluating this document and completing the survey. 

The deadline for review is April 30th, 2018.

Thank you.  We value your feedback.

Alex Carling
Director of Professional Practice and Quality Assurance

(Consultation Feedback Requested by May 26, 2017)

March 28, 2017

The College is seeking your feedback on proposed changes to various fees. These changes will affect the fees paid by Applicants, Initial members, Academic members, General members and Non-Practising members.

Summary

The proposed fee adjustments and changes to fees reflect the rising costs of meeting the College's regulatory mandate and strategic goals while addressing increased pressures from the external environment.  The College Council noted the following relevant factors before approving the proposal for circulation:

• The College Council wishes to pursue a more incremental approach to fee adjustments, tied to ongoing inflationary costs
• The rate of membership growth in CASLPO has slowed over the last two years due to increased resignations, static number of applications and deferred registrations due to a rise in casual and part-time employment for speech-language pathologists   
• Costs for discipline cases, hearings and court costs have increased by 215% over the last two years
• Costs for complaints, reports and appeals involving members and cease and desist orders against unauthorized practitioners have risen by 75% over the last two years
• The College Council has committed increased funds to raise the public's awareness of the benefits of using a regulated health professional and to comply with government directions concerning transparency and accountability
• The College is in the process of rebuilding adequate reserves that comply with the requirements of the Canada Revenue Agency

In summary, the College Council recognizes the challenges associated with increasing members' fees and chose to address specific fees where a large or increasing gap existed between the fee and the actual cost.  Where possible, an incremental increase is proposed to reduce the burden on members of a large one-time fee increase.

How Do I Provide My Feedback?

To view the proposed changes, and to provide any comments via anonymous survey please click here.

Consultation with you the members, the public, hearing and speech organizations and other Colleges is an important part of the College's by-law and regulation development process.

Please ensure your response is received by the College on or before May 26, 2017.

(Consultation Feedback requested by November 16, 2016)

In order to help guide the development of by-laws, regulations and other documents, the College requests input from members of the public, members of the professions and other stakeholders.  You now have an opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the By-Laws that will enhance respect in the College workplace and the governance of the College Council.

A key value of the College is respect for all individuals. Such respect for behaviour and attitude is also an expectation that the College has for all members of CASLPO. The College strives to demonstrate respect within all of its activities both internally and externally. Maintaining a culture of respect by and within the College requires a periodic review of the College's policies, procedures and by-laws. In addition, recent amendments to the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act require all organizations to treat harassment, particularly on a protected human rights ground, not just as unacceptable discrimination, but also as a workplace safety issue. Demonstrating a lack of respect, particularly in an area protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code or in the form of harassment, can cause significant harm to individuals and to the College itself.

Our Objective

While the College has always had policies and by-laws relating to respect, this year the College has done a review of those documents and has prepared an updated, comprehensive package to address the need for respect in all of the College's activities.

The College invites any comments or questions about the proposed changes to the by-Laws in the following areas. A draft of these documents are accessible below for comment by the members of the public, members of the professions and stakeholders:

1. Three policy documents, for CASLPO use for internal purposes concerning:

a. A general statement of College values related to respecting diversity and human rights click here;

b. A workplace respect policy for staff click here; and

c. A corresponding respect policy for Council and Committee members click here.

2.   To ensure that serious cases can be addressed formally in those rare instances where informal action is insufficient, by-law amendments are proposed as follows:

a.  A "Code of Conduct" for Council and Committee Members summarizing the obligations of Council and Committee members. The Code of Conduct would form a Schedule to the by-laws click here; and

b.  Various by-law amendments related to setting out a fair process for dealing with serious governance concerns by Council and Committee members, particularly those involving discrimination, harassment or some other form of disrespect. There is also one housekeeping amendment relating to committee composition should there be procedural delays click here.

Please note that these documents work together as a package and many of the documents refer to other documents within the package. So, the documents should be read together as a unified consistent whole. The documents provide for the following:

• A more clear definition of terms used, with examples to illustrate key points;
• A process for informal and, if that does not succeed, enforceable formal action that can be taken, up to, and including, removal from office;
• Consideration of fairness to all perspectives in a dispute; and
• Addressing concerns between College staff and Council/Committee members 

Members of the profession may wish to use this consultation as an opportunity to review their own organization's respect, human rights, occupational health and safety and diversity documents.

How Do I Provide My Feedback?

Feedback can be provided up until November 16, 2016 by the following methods:

Anonymous, electronic survey* (Click here)

Email: boriordan@caslpo.com

Fax: (416) 975-8394

Mail:

College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario

3080 Yonge St. Suite 5060, Box 71, Toronto, ON M4N 3N1

*The College is pleased to respond to questions or comments submitted separately from the electronic survey.

How Long Is The Consultation Period?

Before these changes are considered for final approval by Council, at its December Council meeting, the College is seeking your feedback within the next 30 days; before November 16, 2016.

Next Steps

The College’s Executive Committee and Council will carefully consider aggregated comments before making any decisions about the proposed changes.

(Consultation Feedback Requested by September 12, 2015)

In order to help guide the development of by-laws, regulations and other documents, the College requests input from members of the professions, the public and other stakeholders.  You now have an opportunity to comment on proposed changes to by-laws that will enhance information on the Public Register.

As a result of a request to all Colleges from the Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long Term Care in a letter October 4, 2014, to enhance transparency, (click here) CASLPO developed a comprehensive plan covering many facets of information that the College would consider making public. (click here)

Our Objective

CASLPO’s approach is focused on facilitating accessibility of information in the public interest.

The following proposed changes are consistent with the goals of improving access to information and public protection.

The Member Information Under Consideration In This Consultation Includes:

Registration-related information regarding:

1. Charges, convictions and bail conditions; and
2. Information from other regulators.

Complaint-related information regarding the following types of College orders:

3. Oral (in-person) cautions; and
4. Specified continuing education or remediation programs (“SCERPS”).

Discipline-related information:

5. Notice of Hearing; and
6. Status of hearing.

In order to make this information publically available, CASLPO needs to change its By-Laws. (Click to view the current By-Law 2011-6, Public Register)

What Is The Benefit Of Making This Information Public?

Making more information available allows members of the public to make more informed decisions about who provides their care, and gives employers more information about who they are hiring.

Changes That Will Affect Members

These amendments do have the potential to affect CASLPO members by making more information about them available to the public.

You are encouraged to take a few minutes to read the proposed amendments and provide your feedback.  Access the proposed changes to the By-Laws

How Do I Provide My Feedback?

Feedback can be provided up until September 12 2015, by the following methods:

Anonymous, electronic survey* (click here)

Email:  transparency@caslpo.com

Fax: 416-975-8394

Mail:
College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
3080 Yonge St. Suite 5060, Box 71 
Toronto, ON M4N 3N1