The Discipline Committee hears matters regarding allegations of professional misconduct and/or incompetence. When it makes a finding of guilt, a summary of its decision and reasons must be published in the College’s newsletter, Connexions.
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDER
- Suspend Diba Hashimi’s Certificate of Registration (registration number 21798) for seven months
- Terms, Conditions and Limitations on Certificate of Registration that includes mentorship and completion of an educational course in behavioural guidance
Agreed Facts: Diba Hashimi was responsible for supervising a group of preschool aged children. Hashimi grabbed a child, pulled him towards her, and shoved, struck or slapped the child in the back of the head with her open palm. The force of the impact caused the child to fall forward and then back onto his back.
Finding: A panel of the Discipline Committee found Hashimi guilty of multiple violations of the professional misconduct regulation (Ontario Regulation 223/08). Of particular note, Hashimi was found guilty of physically, verbally, psychologically and/or emotionally abusing a child who was under her professional supervision.
In its finding the panel stated, “Physical abuse of a child is reprehensible. It disgraces the profession and the member. It also constitutes conduct that is unbecoming a member, which is an act of professional misconduct”.
Penalty: The panel directed the College’s Registrar to suspend Hashimi’s Certificate of Registration for seven months. In addition to the suspension, the Panel directed the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on Hashimi’s Certificate of Registration, which includes a requirement for Hashimi to enter into a mentorship relationship with an RECE mentor pre-approved by the College, as well as a requirement that she complete an educational course in behavioural guidance. Hashimi was also ordered to contribute $1,000 towards the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE ORDER
- Suspend Kelly Marion’s Certificate of Registration (registration number 19741) for five months
- Terms, Conditions and Limitations on Certificate of Registration that includes mentorship and completion of an educational course in behavioural guidance
Agreed Facts: Kelly Marion was supervising a group of preschool aged children outside when a child got into a physical altercation with his sister. Marion approached the child, grabbed him by the outside of his arms, lifted him off the ground, shook him, and placed him down on his bottom forcefully. She got down on the child’s level, positioned her face close to the child’s, and shouted at him not to move. Although it was Marion’s position that she has a naturally loud voice and did not intend to shout at the child.
On another occasion, Marion was supervising a group of preschool aged children when a child was having difficulty sleeping during naptime. Marion sat beside the child, physically forced her to lie down, covered her in a blanket, and leaned over the child with her elbow on the opposite side of the bed so that the child could not get up.
Finding: A panel of the Discipline Committee found Marion guilty of multiple violations of the professional misconduct regulation (Ontario Regulation 223/08). Of particular note, Marion physically, verbally, psychologically, and emotionally abused a child who was under her professional supervision.
In its finding the panel stated, “…the Member failed to comply with the Act, the regulations, or by-laws and acted in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional… Through her conduct on three separate occasions, the Member failed to live up to the standards of practice as outlined in the College’s Standards of Practice”.
Penalty: The panel directed the College’s Registrar to suspend Marion’s Certificate of Registration for five months. In addition to the suspension, the Panel directed the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on Marion’s Certificate of Registration, which includes a requirement for Marion to enter into a mentorship relationship with an RECE mentor pre-approved by the College as well as a requirement that she complete an educational course in behavioural guidance. Marion was also ordered to contribute $1,500 towards the College’s prosecution and hearing costs.
