Toronto (Jan 15) — The Ontario government has created a new 10-person investigations unit to improve compliance and ensure safety of residents in long-term care homes.
The new unit is now active and will investigate allegations such as:
- failing to protect a resident from abuse or neglect
- repeated and ongoing non-compliance
- failing to comply with ministry inspector’s orders
- suppressing and/or falsifying mandatory reports, and
- negligence of corporate directors
“These new investigators have the authority to add more accountability in the long-term care sector and will help address the most serious forms of non-compliance,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Long-Term Care.
The newly appointed investigators completed comprehensive training over 19 weeks which consisted of in-class training, self-study modules and field experience. The training covered all aspects of the inspections program, the relevant legislation and regulation, investigative techniques such as interviewing, search warrant and report writing, as well as court procedures.
The new unit’s investigators are designated as Provincial Offences Officers under the Provincial Offences Act and will investigate allegations of offenses under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act. While inspectors identify and address non-compliance under the Act, investigators determine if there are grounds that an offence under the Act has been committed, which if prosecuted could result in fines and/or imprisonment.
