Mandatory Reporting – College of Kinesiologists of Ontario

Kinesiologists, and those who employ or work with them, have obligations to report certain information to the College.

Mandatory reporting helps protect the public because it brings important information to the College’s attention. Through these mandatory reports, the College can investigate incidents of possible professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity on the part of kinesiologists.

Below is brief summary of different reporting obligations. For more information on each report listed below, view the Mandatory Reporting Guideline.

If you have questions about mandatory reporting, contact us by email or at (416) 961-7000 ext. 109.

Reporting obligations for kinesiologists

Kinesiologists must file a mandatory or self-report with the College if they:

believe a patient/client may have been or is being sexually abused by a kinesiologist. (Special rules apply to how this type of report is made. Kinesiologists should consult the Mandatory Reporting Guideline or consult with the College).
end a partnership, health profession corporation or association with a kinesiologist or other regulated health professional for reasons of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity.
have been charged with or found guilty of an offence, or are subject to any bail or similar restrictions.
have a finding of professional malpractice or negligence.
have a finding or proceeding by another regulatory body.

For help in making a mandatory report, view the mandatory reporting checklist.

Reporting obligations for employers/facility operators

Employers or facility operators must file a mandatory report with the College if:

they believe a patient/client may have been or is being sexually abused by a kinesiologist.
they have reason to believe that a kinesiologist is incompetent or incapacitated.
a kinesiologist or other regulated health professional has been terminated for reasons of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity.
a kinesiologist voluntarily resigns, relinquishes or restricts his or her practice and there is reasonable belief that it is related to their conduct, competence or capacity.
a partnership, health profession corporation or association involving a kinesiologist or other regulated health professional ends for reasons of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity.

Reporting to other organizations

Kinesiologists and employers of kinesiologists may also have mandatory reporting obligations to other organizations, such as reporting child abuse and neglect or elder abuse, and warning authorities or appropriate parties when someone is in serious danger (duty to warn). Please also be aware of these reporting obligations.

Filing a report

Mandatory reports must be filed within 30 days of the finding or occurrence. However, reports must be made immediately if there are reasonable grounds to believe that:

the professional will continue to sexually abuse the patient or other patients; or
the incompetence or the incapacity of the professional is likely to expose patients to harm or injury, and there is urgent need for intervention.

To file a mandatory report, complete the Reporting Form and email the completed copy to the College.

Complete the Reporting Form

FAQs

The College will review all reports of findings of guilt and assess whether there is a reasonable belief that the offence may be relevant to suitability to practise. If the College has reason to believe this, an investigation is initiated, which is reviewed by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee. If an investigation is initiated, you will be notified and provided the opportunity to respond. In other cases, the College may take informal action by contacting you and ensuring you understand your legal and ethical duties as a regulated health professional. For matters that do not raise concerns, the information will be kept on your file, but no further action will be taken.

Yes. The Health Professions Procedural Code makes it mandatory to report any and all findings of guilt to the regulator. The regulator acts in the public’s interest and is in the best possible position to assess which findings of guilt require further investigation. In almost all cases, minor infractions or non-serious offences will not be investigated by the College.

Regulated health professionals are in a position of trust and are expected to adhere to a high standard of ethical and safe behaviour, even outside of their practice. It is professional misconduct to be found guilty of an offence that is determined to be relevant to suitability to practise. Relevant to suitability does not only include behaviour while practising, but also includes conduct that may be seen as untrustworthy, unreliable or unethical, as this can diminish the confidence in you as a kinesiologist and in the profession as a whole.