Fair Registration Practices Report

Midwives (2016)

The answers seen below were submitted to the OFC by the regulated professions.

This Fair Registration Practices Report was produced as required by:

  • the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act (FARPACTA) s. 20 and 23(1), for regulated professions named in Schedule 1 of FARPACTA
  • the Health Professions Procedural Code set out in Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) s. 22.7 (1) and 22.9(1), for health colleges.

Index

  1. Qualitative Information
  2. Quantitative Information
  3. Submission

1. Qualitative Information

a) Requirements for registration, including acceptable alternatives
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

No changes in 2016.

In 2016, the College developed and approved a Jurisprudence Course handbook which provides information on the ethical and legal framework within which Midwives practise in Ontario. This handbook accompanies a new Jurisprudence Course, which will become a College registration requirement for all applicants starting in 2017.

Although no changes have been made during this reporting period, the College has proposed potential changes to its Registration Regulation and conducted initial consultations with key stakeholders. The Registration Committee has reviewed the first draft of the proposed changes and will be continuing to work on the revisions in the coming year. The proposed changes will impact the requirements for entry-to-practice, class changes and ongoing registration. The College will ensure that the changes are consistent with the principles of fairness, objectivity, impartiality and transparency. This aligns with the College’s move to develop and implement policies and regulations which are risk-based.

In addition, the College has undertaken a streamlining process to enable a review of all current registration policies and procedures to identify areas for change.

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

These changes will enable the College to implement more streamlined and transparent processes. Policies based on current evidence with respect to registration requirements and a move away from confusing regulatory language, will provide applicants with a better understanding of the routes of entry, classes of registration, currency and other requirements. In addition, it will ensure applicants are being held to the same standards required of other primary health care professionals with respect to registration. The College will also work towards increased consistency with other Canadian midwifery regulators to support the labour mobility requirements of the Agreement on Internal Trade.

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

Proposed amendments to the Registration Regulation and ongoing streamlining work will facilitate the development of improved policies, regulatory tools and information, as well as more effective and efficient processes. 

 

b) Assessment of qualifications
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

No changes this year

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

No changes this year

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

No changes this year

c) Provision of timely decisions, responses, and reasons
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

No changes in 2016.

As part of a College-wide streamlining initiative, the Registration Department has implemented an initial review of Registration Committee referrals. Preliminary findings have been compiled and recommendations for changes will be identified by the end of March 2017, to be implemented in 2017.

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

 

Any changes in 2017 will be based on enhancing the College’s ability to provide timely decisions, responses and reasons to applicants.

 

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

Any changes will build the capacity of the organization to process applications which are referred to the Registration Committee as expeditiously as possible.

 

 

d) Fees
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

The registration fees were increased $100 for the registration year October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 in accordance with the College’s Fees and Remuneration By-law.  Initial registration applicants pay pro-rated registration fees.  That is, they only pay for the months in a registration year for which they are registered.

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

The $100 increase worked out to an increase of approximately $8 for each month of registration, which is a manageable increase.

 

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

 

The registration fee increase is part of the College’s strategy towards financial independence and sustainability.

e) Timelines
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

No changes this year

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

No changes this year

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

No changes this year

f) Policies, procedures and/or processes, including by-laws
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

The College’s General By-law was amended in response to the Minister of Health and Long-term Care’s directive for Colleges to be as transparent as possible in the public interest.

Accordingly, the following information is now posted on the Public Register, where applicable:

  • Findings of guilt (all criminal findings or findings under the Health Insurance Act or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act against members, made on or after March 1, 2016)
  • Charges (all criminal charges or charges under the Health Insurance Act or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that are laid against the member on or after March 1, 2016)
  • Bail conditions (all bail conditions that are in place on or after March 1, 2016)
  • Registration history with other regulators (all known current or past licenses to practice in Ontario or other jurisdictions or professions on the public register, if public in other jurisdictions)
  • Past practice locations (all past midwifery practice locations in Ontario, including the Member’s position at that location; e.g., sole proprietor/associate/locum)
  • Alternate Practice Arrangements
  • Names of Second Birth Attendants
  • Resignation while under investigation
  • Oral cautions ordered by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee
  • Written cautions ordered by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee
  • Specified Continuing Education or Remediation Programs (SCERPs) that require a follow-up or monitoring ordered by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee
ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

Apart from additional questions on the registration application form, the impact on applicants has been negligible.

 

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

The College focused on making the necessary changes to registration forms, renewal forms, the database, and all other related processes to effectively and fully comply with the by-law changes implemented in 2016.  The College is pleased to have fulfilled its transparency commitment to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and ultimately, in the public interest, by having more information about its members and former members readily available on the Public Register.

 

g) Resources for applicants
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

 

No changes in 2016.

In 2017, the College will be launching an online application process. It is anticipated that there will be new and amended resources for applicants in 2017 once the online application process is launched and once the Registration Department’s streamlining process has been completed. These resources will include guides, handbooks, additional website information and FAQs.

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

These resources will provide enhanced information for applicants and potential applicants.

 

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

Improved resources and systems will enable College staff to process registration applications more efficiently.

 

h) Review or appeal processes
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

No changes this year

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

No changes this year

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

No changes this year

i) Access to applicant records
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

No changes this year

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

No changes this year

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

No changes this year

j) Training and resources for registration staff, Council, and committee members
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

Succession planning was implemented to help support the appointment of a new Chair of the Registration Committee in 2016.  This was done to ensure that the new Chair of the Registration Committee is well-versed prior to the previous long-serving Chair’s appointment with the College ended.

As in previous years, the College has demonstrated its commitment to providing continuous opportunities for staff, Council, and committee members to attend workshops, conferences, and courses.  In particular, the College provided more on-site learning opportunities to staff, Council, and committee members in 2016 focused on risk-based regulation.

Registration Committee members and Registration Department staff have undertaken to complete the OFC Learning Modules. In addition, the Registration Committee handbook continues to be used.

Registration Department staff attended the Ontario Regulators for Access’ Managing Cultural Differences and Building an Inclusive Regulatory Environment workshops.

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

A seamless transition to a new Registration Committee Chair, made possible, in part, by the support of the out-going Chair, ensured that there would be no negative impact on applicants.

Introductory training has been provided to new non-Council members of the Registration Committee, as well as opportunities to observe Panel meetings to facilitate understanding of the deliberations and process.

The Ontario Regulators for Access’ Managing Cultural Differences and Building an Inclusive Regulatory Environment workshops provided Registration Department staff with an understanding of cultural differences and its potential impact on registration practices.  Staff apply this training when communicating with applicants and when developing registration-related materials for applicants, helping to ensure information, processes, requirements, and context are understood, enabling fairer registration practices.

 

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

Providing on-site learning opportunities to staff, Council, and committee members has proven to be a cost-effective strategy for continuous learning.  Consequently, the College will be providing more of these on-site learning opportunities going forward.

The Ontario Regulators for Access’ Managing Cultural Differences and Building an Inclusive Regulatory Environment workshops reinforced the importance of reducing unintended barrirers for all applicants seeking registration.  As the College enhances and streamlines regulation, policies and processes, it will continuously monitor and prevent unintended barriers while implementing best practices in entry to practise initiatives.

 

k) Mutual recognition agreements
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

No changes this year

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

No changes this year

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

No changes this year

l) Other (include as many items as applicable)
i. Describe any improvements / changes implemented in the last year.

 

To address the ever increasing workload and complexities in the Registration Department, the College added a Manager of Registration to staff in 2016.

Continuous development of the College’s database and member portal to facilitate enhanced application and renewal procedures is ongoing.

 

ii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on applicants.

The timelines for processing applications and renewals remained consistent to previous years, despite overall membership increases, implementation of the transparency initiative, and the ongoing implementation of the new database.

 

iii. Describe the impact of the improvements / changes on your organization.

With these changes, the Registration Department has committed to streamlining processes, procedures and tools and basing any changes on a risk-based regulatory framework to improve the College’s ability to meet its public protection mandate while ensuring fair, transparent, objective and impartial registration practices.

Describe any registration-related improvements/changes to your enabling legislation and/or regulations in the last year

No changes this year

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2. Quantitative Information

a) Languages
Indicate the languages in which application information materials were available in the reporting year.
Language Yes/No
English Yes
French No
Other (please specify) 0
Additional comments:
 
b) Gender of applicants
Indicate the number of applicants in each category as applicable.
Gender Number of Applicants
Male 0
Female 79
None of the above 0
Additional comments:
 
c) Gender of members
Indicate the number of members in each category as applicable. Select the option that best corresponds to the terminology used by your organization.
Gender Number of Members
Male 1
Female 856
None of the above 0
Additional comments:
 
d) Jurisdiction where applicants obtained their initial education
Indicate the number of applicants by the jurisdiction where they obtained their initial education1 in the profession or trade.
Ontario Other Canadian Provinces USA Other International Unknown Total
71 0 5
Netherlands
1
U.K.
1
Venezuela
1
Total
3
0
79

1 Recognizing that applicants may receive their education in multiple jurisdictions, for the purpose of this question, include only the jurisdiction in which an entry-level degree, diploma or other certification required to practice the profession or trade was obtained.

Additional comments:
 
e) Jurisdiction where applicants who became registered members obtained their initial education
Indicate the number of applicants who became registered members in the reporting year by the jurisdiction where they obtained their initial education1 in the profession or trade.
Ontario Other Canadian Provinces USA Other International Unknown Total
69 0 4
Netherlands
1
U.K.
1
Venezuela
1
Total
3
0
76

1 Recognizing that applicants may receive their education in multiple jurisdictions, for the purpose of this question, include only the jurisdiction in which an entry-level degree, diploma or other certification required to practice the profession or trade was obtained.

Additional comments:
 
f) Jurisdiction where members were initially trained
Indicate the total number of registered members by jurisdiction where they obtained their initial education1 in the profession or trade.
Ontario Other Canadian Provinces USA Other International Unknown Total
711 18 28
Argentina
1
Belgium
1
China
5
Ghana
1
Guatemala
1
Netherlands
2
Hungary
1
India
1
Iran
23
Lebanon
1
Morocco
1
New Zealand
1
Peru
1
Philippines
1
Russia
1
Switzerland
1
U.K.
33
Venezuela
1
S. Africa
1
Poland
1
France
1
OTHER
20
Total
100
0
857

1 Recognizing that applicants may receive their education in multiple jurisdictions, for the purpose of this question, include only the jurisdiction in which an entry-level degree, diploma or other certification required to practice the profession or trade was obtained.

Additional comments:

In 2016, the College made improvements to its systems to record the specific educational jurisdiction of internationally-educated registrants.  A file review will be conducted to identify the educational jurisdiction of 20 remaining registrants not yet identified.

g) Applications processed
Indicate the number of applications your organization processed in the reporting year:
Jurisdiction where applicants were initially trained in the profession (before they were granted use of the protected title or professional designation in Ontario)
from January 1st to December 31st of the reporting year Ontario Other Canadian Provinces USA Other International Unknown Total
New applications received 71 0 5 3 0
79
Applicants actively pursuing licensing (applicants who had some contact with your organization in the reporting year) 76 0 5 3 0
84
Inactive applicants (applicants who had no contact with your organization in the reporting year) 0 0 0 0 0
0
Applicants who met all requirements and were authorized to become members but did not become members 0 0 0 0 0
0
Applicants who became FULLY registered members 74 0 0 0 0
74
Applicants who were authorized to receive an alternative class of licence3 but were not issued a licence 1 0 0 0 0
1
Applicants who were issued an alternative class of licence3 0 0 4 3 0
7

1 An alternative class of licence enables its holder to practice with limitations, but additional requirements must be met in order for the member to be fully licensed.

Additional comments:
 
h) Classes of certificate/license
Inidcate and provide a description of the classes of certificate/license offered by your organization.

You must specify and describe at least one class of certificate/license (on line a) in order for this step to be complete.

# Certification Description
a) General Description (a)

Practice with no restrictions.

b) Supervised Practice Description (b)

Practice with restrictions.

c) Transitional Description (c)

Practice with restrictions.

d) Inactive Description (d)

Not practising.

Additional comments:
 
i) Reviews and appeals processed
State the number of reviews and appeals your organization processed in the reporting year (use only whole numbers; do not enter commas or decimals).
Jurisdiction where applicants were initially trained in the profession (before they were granted use of the protected title or professional designation in Ontario)
from January 1st to December 31st of the reporting year Ontario Other Canadian Provinces USA Other International Unknown Total
Applications that were subject to an internal review or that were referred to a statutory committee of your governing council, such as a Registration Committee 3 0 2 0 0
5
Applicants who initiated an appeal of a registration decision 0 0 0 0 0
0
Appeals heard 0 0 0 0 0
0
Registration decisions changed following an appeal 0 0 0 0 0
0
Additional comments:
 
j) Paid staff
In the table below, enter the number of paid staff employed by your organization in the categories shown, on December 31 of the reporting year.

When providing information for each of the categories in this section, you may want to use decimals if you count your staff using half units. For example, one full-time employee and one part-time employee might be equivalent to 1.5 employees.

You can enter decimals to the tenths position only. For example, you can enter 1.5 or 7.5 but not 1.55 or 7.52.

Category Staff
Total staff employed by the regulatory body 12
Staff involved in appeals process 2
Staff involved in registration process 5
Additional comments:
 

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3. Submission

Submission
I hereby certify that:
Name of individual with authority to sign on behalf of the organization:
Kelly Dobbin
Title:
Registrar & CEO, College of Midwives of Ontario
Date:
2017/03/01

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