On April 28th, 2021, the Inquiry Committee accepted Ms. Wendy Young’s proposal to settle a Further Amended Citation pursuant to s. 37.1 (3) of the Health Professions Act (the “Act”). Ms. Young’s proposal included an acknowledgement that in conducting speech-language pathology assessments on the cases addressed in the complaint matter, she failed to comply with professional standards in relation to the planning, administering, and reporting of assessments.
Background
Ms. Young (the “Respondent”) is currently and was at all material times a registrant of the College and specifically a speech-language pathologist. On May 28, 2018, a complaint was made with the College asserting the Respondent lacked competency in administering, scoring, and interpreting standardized tests, and the possibility of inaccurate information being provided to families regarding the speech and language abilities of children. The Inquiry Committee initially proposed disposing of the complaint with two separate undertakings, both of which the Respondent declined. Ultimately, the Inquiry Committee determined that a hearing was warranted due to the seriousness of the concerns and inability to resolve the matter by consent. The Inquiry Committee directed the registrar to issue a citation on March 10, 2020. A hearing was scheduled to proceed May 3-7 and 10-14, 2021.
Order under s. 39 of the Health Professions Act
The Inquiry Committee makes an order under s. 37.1(3) of the Act on terms which include that the Respondent practice according to the terms set out in an Undertaking and Consent Agreement, signed by the Respondent on April 28, 2021 (the “Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Respondent will complete five (5) mentorship sessions by September 1, 2021 and the sessions will occur with a mentor approved by the College.
Following the completion of the mentorship sessions, the Respondent will practice under general supervision with respect to her planning, administering, and reporting of assessments beginning September 2021 for six calendar months. The supervisor will be approved by the College. If the supervisor determines that the Respondent’s practice clearly meets the minimum acceptable professional standards, they may end the supervision at an earlier time with notice to the College. The supervisor will report to the College’s Inquiry Committee on whether the Respondent is practicing in accordance with minimum acceptable professional standards. In signing the Agreement, the Respondent agreed to pay a portion of the College’s investigation and disciplinary hearing preparation costs, as well as the expenses of the mentorship and supervision.
The Inquiry Committee is satisfied that this resolution is consistent with the College’s public protection mandate.