The Discipline Committee hears matters regarding allegations of professional misconduct and/or incompetence which have been referred by the Complaints Committee following investigation.
The College is required to publish summaries of decisions made by the Discipline Committee when the makes a finding of guilt. These summaries are posted on our blog. The College is also required to publish the full decisions and reasons from Discipline matters, which can be found on the College’s website, and on CanLII, the Canadian Legal Information Institute’s website.
Andrea Jane Doan, RECE # 04921
Facts: The Member’s colleagues transitioned a group of preschool-aged children outdoors for play time. The weather was approximately –2 degrees Celsius. A three-and-a-half-year-old child was led outside without wearing a coat, snowpants, boots, a hat or mittens. One of the Member’s colleagues brought the child’s winter gear outside, set it down beside the child and instructed them to dress themselves, and tried to stop other staff members from assisting. The child remained outside without proper winter gear for approximately 45 to 80 minutes and appeared to be cold.
The Member was present in the outdoor play area while this happened and did not help the child get dressed, did not instruct the other staff to dress the child, and did not bring the child inside or instruct any other staff to do so.
Findings: The Committee found that the Member had committed several acts of professional misconduct under Ontario Regulation 223/08, including failing to supervise adequately a person who was under her professional supervision; failing to maintain the standards of the profession;
acting or failing to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional; and acting in a manner that is unbecoming of a member.
Penalty:
The Committee made an order as to penalty and costs:
- The Member’s certificate of registration was suspended for at least 4 months.
- Terms, conditions and limitations were imposed on the Member’s certificate of registration.
- The Member must appear before the Discipline Committee to be reprimanded.
- The Member will pay costs to the College in the amount of $1,000.
The full decision can be found here, linked under the heading “Special Notices”.
Mélanie Quesnel, RECE # 69910
Facts: The Member was responsible for supervising a group of preschool-aged children in a motor skills room, located in the basement of the child care centre. The Member allowed a child to go to the washroom unaccompanied, failing to notice that the child climbed the stairs to the main level, opened several doors and walked out of the centre alone and unsupervised. The child then walked through a public parking lot across a plaza, where they were found by a member of the public. The child was crying when they were returned to the centre, approximately 5 minutes after they had left.
Findings: The Committee found that the Member had committed several acts of professional misconduct under Ontario Regulation 223/08, including failing to supervise adequately a person who was under her professional supervision; failing to maintain the standards of the profession;
acting or failing to act in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional; and acting in a manner that is unbecoming of a member.
Penalty:
The Committee made an order as to penalty and costs:
- The Member’s certificate of registration was suspended for at least 6 months.
- Terms, conditions and limitations were imposed on the Member’s certificate of registration.
- The Member must appear before the Discipline Committee to be reprimanded.
- The Member will pay costs to the College in the amount of $1,000.
The full decision can be found here, linked under the heading “Special Notices”.