Responding to Investigations

Receiving a letter or notice from the College about an investigation into their practice can be very stressful. It is a natural reaction to want to respond to the College immediately and address the matter.

It is helpful to know that all investigations are driven by facts and defined processes. The committee that reviews investigation reports – the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) – is a neutral party, trained to review the information in each case to determine the most appropriate outcome.

As health care professionals, occupational therapists are accountable for their behaviour and expected to offer context and insight into the underlying situation. An OT is not expected to accept blame for something they did not do. If the OT feels a person has misinterpreted issues or incidents in their complaint or report, it is important to provide a well-documented and organized account of their recollection. How an OT demonstrates professionalism in their response is a factor in how the ICRC arrives at a decision.

Where the complainant is a client, the OT is still in a position of power and authority with that client. Regardless of whether the client’s account is an accurate reflection of the interactions, it is important to reflect upon the situation in a non-judgmental way and to explain the situation as factually as possible.

It is natural to become defensive or worried when faced with concerns or criticism. While registrants can respond to a complaint or report at any time, the process at the College allows the registrant to wait until the investigation is complete so there is opportunity to review all the information and reflect before providing a written response.

When writing a response, registrants should keep in mind that if the complainant appeals the decision, a copy of the that response will be shared. Registrants should consider their position as a health professional and the impact and potential harm of the tone or language they use in their response.

Learn more about the College’s complaint process.