Abuse Prevention and Response Protocol

PDD has a solid history of being proactive in the area of addressing abuse. Through its Abuse Prevention and Response Committee, with diverse representatives from both government and the community, PDD has been able to address issues related to education, training, reporting and investigation. This committee won a 1998 Premier’s Award of Excellence for its work on addressing abuse. This committee continues to have lead responsibility for unfolding PDD’s strategic direction on addressing abuse.

In 2002, the focus of PDD’s strategic direction shifted to the area of prevention, while strengthening accountability related to investigation and follow-up of abuse allegations. The result is the Abuse Prevention & Response Protocol, implementation date January 1, 2004.

PDD accesses two mechanisms for responding to abuse, as identified below. Although based on different philosophical and practical approaches, the issue is taken very seriously, regardless of the mechanism for addressing the allegation.

PDD Abuse Prevention & Response Protocol

• Scope-PDD specific. Policy based, covering all community based PDD funding arrangements
• Approach- collaborative: service providers and PDD
• Investigations- flexibility regarding who has lead, with the following options all being used
  • Service provider alone (most common)
  • Service provider and PDD staff
  • PDD staff
  • External formal investigation

Protection for Persons in Care Act

• Scope-cross ministerial. Legislative based, impacting sites designated as care “facilities” using specific criteria, which encompasses PDD direct operation facilities, group homes and vocational and rehabilitation training centers
• Approach- external to PDD and service provider
• Investigations- external formal investigation

Addressing Abuse: Unfolding PDD's Strategic Plan Updates

• Terms of Reference, Abuse Prevention and Response Committee - 2005-06
• Clarifying PDD's Strategic Plan, Oct 2002
• Unveiling A Strengthened PDD Abuse Protocol, Aug 2003
• Top 10 Things You need to Know about the Protocol, Sept 2005

Core Documents

• Abuse Prevention & Response Protocol Manual August 2006
• Preventing and Responding to Abuse Brochure, January 2004
• Plain Language Brochure on keeping safe - "I feel good about me" - March 2005
• Clarifications:
  • Ethical Responsibility Clarification - July 2005
  • Guardian Fact Sheet - January 2006

Abuse Prevention & Response Training Documents

• Training Manual For Trainers
• Training Overheads In PowerPoint Format
• Training Overheads in PDF Format
• Educational Package for Families that Hire Privately
• Trainer Update # 6 January 2006
• Trainer Update # 5 July 2005
• Trainer Update # 4 March 2005
• Trainer Update # 3 August 2004
• Trainer Update # 2 May 2004
• Trainer Update # 1 January 2004