Committee Reports

Statutory Committees

The Complaints Committee investigates and considers complaints and mandatory employer reports regarding members of the College. Where appropriate, the Committee may caution a member about their conduct. The Committee may also refer allegations of professional misconduct and/or incompetence to the Discipline Committee, or refer matters of incapacity to the Fitness to Practise Committee.

Changes including an increased number of Committee members and meeting in panels enhanced the Committee’s ability  to review a greater number of cases in a timely fashion. Consistent with best practices in professional regulation, the Committee adopted a Risk Assessment Framework to support fair, thorough and consistent decision-making.

Key Focus: Increase capacity of the Committee to address increased volume of mandatory employer reports.

The Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committees consider matters referred by the Complaints Committee. The Committees sit in panels and have the authority to make findings following a hearing. The Discipline Committee has the authority to order sanctions for professional misconduct or incompetence, up to and including revocation of a member’s Certificate of Registration. The Fitness to Practise Committee may impose restrictions on a member’s ability to practise where necessary to protect the public interest.

The Discipline Committee training continued to focus on ways to promote public protection along with strategies for deliberating fairly and efficiently.

Key Focus: Increase capacity of committees to address anticipated increase in matters referred.

The Executive Committee oversees the implementation of College policy and the administration of College affairs. It has all the powers of Council in between Council meetings, except the authority to make, amend or revoke regulations and by-laws. The Committee also approves the appointment of investigators in relation to complaints and mandatory employer reports.

An item of particular importance for the Committee was leading the development of the College’s new strategic plan for 2018-2021, which included Mission, Vision and Values statements, and Key Priorities and Initiatives. The Committee also provided input into significant policy initiatives and made recommendations to Council.

Key Focus: Development of new strategic plan for 2018-2021.

The Registration Appeals Committee is responsible for reviewing registration applications at the request of applicants once the Registrar proposes to refuse to issue a Certificate of Registration or to impose terms, conditions or limitations on a Certificate of Registration.

Committee training focused on the College’s registration requirements, the Committee’s powers and limitations, applicant rights and best practices for decision-writing.

Key Focus: Ensuring that registration decisions are fair and transparent.

Non-Statutory Committees

The Election Committee oversees the election of Council members.

Increasing member participation in the Council election process continues to be an important focus for the Committee. To encourage members to stand for election, the Committee approved a communications plan which focused on an increased social media and web presence to highlight the importance of running for Council as well as voting in the election.

Key Focus: Oversaw elections in electoral districts 3, 4, and 8.

The Nominating Committee makes recommendations to Council regarding the appointment of committee chairs and members of all committees except for the Executive Committee, which is elected by Council. The Nominating Committee also makes recommendations on the appointment of all non-Council committee members. 

Using principles designed to ensure diverse representation, continuity and succession planning, the Committee recommended to Council the appointment of committee chairs, Council committee members and non-Council committee members. The Committee also developed and recommended to Council the process for screening individuals interested in serving on the roster of potential panel members for the Complaints, Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committees.

Key Focus: Using the Council skills matrix to inform the appointment process and Council training.

The Registration Committee advises Council on strategic policy directions for registration requirements.

The Committee obtained Council’s approval of the Approval of Education Programs Policy in October 2017. This policy provides a framework for updating the list of approved programs for the education requirement for registration.

The Committee also explored what future membership structure and registration requirements might look like for the College and undertook an initiative for applicants to help them address gaps in their education and training. A grant from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration was obtained to fund a feasibility study on bridge training programs for internationally educated early childhood educators to enter the profession in Ontario.

Key Focus: Develop policies and programs to address changes that have occurred in the early years sector in the last 10 years to ensure that RECEs entering the profession are equipped to practice safely, ethically and competently.

The Standards of Practice Committee advises Council on policy directions regarding the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and the Continuous Professional Learning program.

Following the release of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2017, the Committee focused on the development of resources to support members in understanding and applying the revised standards. The Committee reviewed a resource development report and plan, informed by member and stakeholder feedback, and adopted guiding principles for resource development. Published resources included Practice Guideline: Dual Relationships, “Practice Note: Play-Based Learning” and the launch of the #StandardsMatter series.

The Committee also monitored member compliance with Continuous Professional Learning program requirements and considered approaches to support compliance and auditing processes.

Key Focus: Resource development and monitoring implementation of the mandatory CPL program.

The role of the Finance and Audit Committee is to assist Council in fulfilling its duty to oversee the College’s financial position, practices, financial controls and reporting, as well as risk management. 

The Committee’s activities during the year included the development of a multi-year financial plan to support the new strategic plan, reviewing and recommending to Council the annual budget, the financial statements, and the appointment of the auditor, as well as revisions to financial policies and oversight of compliance.

Key Focus: Ensuring the integrity of financial reporting and the sustainability of the College’s operations.

Committee Reports

Statutory Committees

The Complaints Committee investigates and considers complaints and mandatory employer reports regarding members of the College. Where appropriate, the Committee may caution a member about their conduct. The Committee may also refer allegations of professional misconduct and/or incompetence to the Discipline Committee, or refer matters of incapacity to the Fitness to Practise Committee.

Changes including an increased number of Committee members and meeting in  panels enhanced the Committee’s ability to review a greater number of cases in a timely fashion. Consistent with best practices in professional regulation, the Committee adopted a Risk Assessment Framework to support fair, thorough and consistent decision-making.

Key Focus: Increase capacity of the Committee to address increased volume of mandatory employer reports.

The Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committees consider matters referred by the Complaints Committee. The Committees sit in panels and have the authority to make findings following a hearing. The Discipline Committee has the authority to order sanctions for professional misconduct or incompetence, up to and including revocation of a member’s Certificate of Registration. The Fitness to Practise Committee may impose restrictions on a member’s ability to practise where necessary to protect the public interest.

The Discipline Committee training continued to focus on ways to promote public protection along with strategies for deliberating fairly and efficiently.

Key Focus: Increase capacity of committees to address anticipated increase in matters referred.

The Executive Committee oversees the implementation of College policy and the administration of College affairs. It has all the powers of Council in between Council meetings, except the authority to make, amend or revoke regulations and by-laws.  The Committee also approves the appointment of investigators in relation to complaints and mandatory employer reports.

An item of particular importance for the Committee was leading the development of the College’s new strategic plan for 2018-2021, which included Mission, Vision and Values statements, and Key Priorities and Initiatives. The Committee also provided input into significant policy initiatives and made recommendations to Council.

Key Focus: Development of new strategic plan for 2018-2021.

The Registration Appeals Committee is responsible for reviewing registration applications at the request of applicants once the Registrar proposes to refuse to issue a Certificate of Registration or to impose terms, conditions or limitations on a Certificate of Registration.

Committee training focused on the College’s registration requirements, the Committee’s powers and limitations, applicant rights and best practices for decision-writing.

Key Focus: Ensuring that registration decisions are fair and transparent.

Non-Statutory Committees

The Election Committee oversees the election of Council members.

Increasing member participation in the Council election process continues to be an important focus for the Committee. To encourage members to stand for election, the Committee approved a communications plan which focused on an increased social media and web presence to highlight the importance of running for Council as well as voting in the election.

Key Focus: Oversaw elections in electoral districts 3, 4, and 8.

The Nominating Committee makes recommendations to Council regarding the appointment of committee chairs and members of all committees except for the Executive Committee, which is elected by Council. The Nominating Committee also makes recommendations on the appointment of all non-Council committee members.

Using principles designed to ensure diverse representation, continuity and succession planning, the Committee recommended to Council the appointment of committee chairs, Council committee members and non-Council committee members. The Committee also developed and recommended to Council the process for screening individuals interested in serving on the roster of potential panel members for the Complaints, Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committees.

Key Focus: Using the Council skills matrix to inform the appointment process and Council training.

The Registration Committee advises Council on strategic policy directions for registration requirements. 

The Committee obtained Council’s approval of the Approval of Education Programs Policy in October 2017. This policy provides a framework for updating the list of approved programs for the education requirement for registration.

The Committee also explored what future membership structure and registration requirements might look like for the College and undertook an initiative for applicants to help them address gaps in their education and training. A grant from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration was obtained to fund a feasibility study on bridge training programs for internationally educated early childhood educators to enter the profession in Ontario.

Key Focus: Develop policies and programs to address changes that have occurred in the early years sector in the last 10 years to ensure that RECEs entering the profession are equipped to practice safely, ethically and competently.

The Standards of Practice Committee advises Council on policy directions regarding the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and the Continuous Professional Learning program.

Following the release of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2017, the Committee focused on the development of resources to support members in understanding and applying the revised standards. The Committee reviewed a resource development report and plan, informed by member and stakeholder feedback, and adopted guiding principles for resource development. Published resources included Practice Guideline: Dual Relationships, “Practice Note: Play-Based Learning” and the launch of the #StandardsMatter series.

The Committee also monitored member compliance with Continuous Professional Learning program requirements and considered approaches to support compliance and auditing processes.

Key Focus: Resource development and monitoring implementation of the mandatory CPL program.

The role of the Finance and Audit Committee is to assist Council in fulfilling its duty to oversee the College’s financial position, practices, financial controls and reporting, as well as risk management.

The Committee’s activities during the year included the development of a multi-year financial plan to support the new strategic plan, reviewing and recommending to Council the annual budget, the financial statements, and the appointment of the auditor, as well as revisions to financial policies and oversight of compliance.

Key Focus: Ensuring the integrity of financial reporting and the sustainability of the College’s operations.