Working within the statutory requirements established for all Health Regulatory Colleges in Ontario; the College views its Quality Assurance Programs as a means of supporting registrants in maintaining their knowledge and skills throughout their careers. While adhering to the rigorous legislative requirements, the components of the College’s Quality Assurance Program have been designed to be supportive rather than investigative. Whenever participation in Quality Assurance leads to the identification of the need for remediation; information about this remains confidential as registrant-specific information about Quality Assurance involvement is not publicly available.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CPD)
New CPD Tracking Resources
New downloadable templates have been posted to the QA section of the College website to assist registrants in tracking their CPD credits throughout their two-year cycles. These templates should be saved directly to personal devices and completed electronically or printed for hard copy use. Registrants are reminded to store their supporting documentation, along with their completed tracking sheets for a minimum of five years (O. Reg. 73/15: General).
College templates now include spaces to record completion of continuing education and professional development activities which include content pertaining to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). All registrants must ensure at least 5 of their overall credits completed within a two-year cycle contain such content to avoid practices that may unfairly discriminate against, or would be experienced as oppressive by, some individuals or groups. EDI credits may be fulfilled through the completion of activities from any of the CPD categories.
The College continues to work towards the launch of a new online CPD tracking tool to assist those registrants who prefer to store their records digitally. More information will be provided in the coming months.
CPD Audits
Each year, the Quality Assurance Committee conducts random audits to verify registrant completion of the mandatory Continuing Professional Development program requirements. The Committee has begun auditing registrant completion for the July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2023 cycle. In addition to those randomly selected, four registrants who did not make their required CPD Declaration of Completion by the assigned deadline are also pending Committee review.
SELF-ASSESSMENT GUIDE AND CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (SAG/PDP)
SAG Review Status Update
There are two matters pending Committee review regarding registrants who did not make their required SAG Declaration of Completion by the required deadline.
PEER ASSISTED REVIEWS (PAR)
PAR Status Update
The College continues to address a backlog of ongoing Peer Assisted Reviews created by restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Most reviews continue to be conducted virtually through secure videoconferencing, although the College has also permitted the resumption of in-person meetings, when requested.
During the last quarter, three Peer Assisted Reviews were completed, with Assessor reports considered by a Panel of the Committee. In all cases, the Panel believed, based upon information detailed in reports, that the registrants demonstrated adherence to the Standards of the profession within their practices.
There are 22 remaining reviews to be scheduled or resumed following a previous deferral. The majority of these reviews remain pending due to the availability of suitable College Assessors. It is anticipated that the selection of additional PAR participants will be made for the 2023-2024 period shortly, pending Committee considerations.
Call for PAR Assessors
To conduct Peer Assisted Reviews, the College requires the assistance of registrants with a desire to take an active role in public protection by assisting their peers. Those interested in becoming College Assessors are encouraged to contact the Quality Assurance Coordinator for additional information (qualityassurance@cpo.on.ca).
Interested registrants will be asked to undertake the following in order to assist in the PAR program:
- Participate in the College’s Peer Assisted Review Assessor and Reviewer training session before conducting the review, if they have not already done so within one year prior to the date of the review (training provided upon appointment as a College Assessor)
- Maintain confidentiality, as required by s.36 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 18
- Familiarize themselves with the Legislation, Regulations and the Standards of Professional Conduct relevant to the practice they will be reviewing
Assessors must also attest that:
- They have held a certificate of Registration for Autonomous Practice with the College of Psychologists of Ontario for at least five years
- They are currently in active practice as a psychologist or psychological associate
- They are free of any conflict of interest or bias, or any appearance of either, with respect to any review they conduct
- Neither themselves, nor the individual they will be reviewing is in a position of power with respect to the other in any review conducted
The Committee is currently requesting the assistance of those who are Authorized in the following areas:
- Rehabilitation Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Neuropsychology
- Clinical Psychology (private practitioners, fluency in English & French an asset)