risk assessment FRAMEWORK
As part of the College’s commitment to ongoing transparency, CDO recognizes that both dietitians and the public can benefit from learning more about how the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) makes decisions. The ICRC is responsible for investigating and making decisions on all complaints and reports. For concerns about a dietitian that pose a high risk of harm to the public, the ICRC may refer those matters to the Discipline Committee or to the Fitness to Practise Committee.
CDO takes a risk-based approach to our investigatory processes, and triages complaints and concerns based on risk to client safety using a risk assessment framework. To promote transparency and understanding, the College has posted a copy of the framework to our website. This framework ensures consistent, fair and transparent decision making guided by analysis and assessment of risk.
Depending on the facts of the case, the risk assessment tool measures levels of concern for a number of clinical and/or practice issues including:
- Impact on client care/safety/adverse outcome
- Clinical knowledge and skill
- Professional judgment/practising outside of scope
- Record keeping
- Client-centred/professional communication
- Discontinued services/failing to provide care
- Confidentiality/privacy breach
- Systemic workplace issues/issues outside member’s control
- Business practices/advertising/billing
- Boundary violations/sexual and non-sexual
The risk assessment tool also provides for the consideration of other factors, including:
- Dishonesty/breach of trust/financially motivated conduct
- Pattern of behaviour
- Impact on public trust and confidence
- Insight/accountability by the dietitian
- Proactive remediation or willingness to improve
- Relevant prior history
- Cooperation with the College/compliance with requirements
- Other mitigating/aggravating factors
Click here to access a copy of the CDO Risk Assessment Framework and tool. We invite you to contact us if you have any questions or comments.