Welcome to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals course
This training course contains audio which will begin on the next slide.
let's Begin
You may mute the audio at any time using the Sound Icon in the bottom right corner of this presentation. (Not recommended)
Content Notice
This training module addresses safeguarding, including topics related to physical and sexual abuse. Some of the material may be sensitive, distressing, or triggering for participants. We recognize that individuals may have personal or professional experiences that make this content difficult to engage with. We encourage you to proceed at a pace that feels appropriate for you, and to take breaks as needed. If you feel affected by the material, please consider reaching out to a trusted colleague, supervisor, or a professional support resource available to you. This training is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to help prevent harm, respond appropriately to concerns, and support safer environments for those in your care.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals:
Awareness, Prevention & Response
Start
Getting Started
Click the home button top right to return to the Table of Contents
You can hover over select images to learn more
Use the left or right arrows to move between slides
Introduction
High-Risk Situations & Behaviours
Abuse Defined
Prevention & Reporting
Table of Contents
Quiz
Legal Responsibilities
Introduction
As an organization that serves children, youth, and/or vulnerable adults, you have a fundamental responsibility to safeguard the safety, dignity, and well-being of those in your care. This responsibility includes taking active steps to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to physical and sexual abuse.
Objectives
By the end of this course you should be able to:
- Define types of abuse
- Discuss the legal environment
- Explore high-risk situations and behaviours
- Examine best practices to protect all who are served by your organization
- Review your duties for reporting incidents
Abuse Defined
We will examine the definition of abuse and explore the various forms it can take. This will help us better understand who may be at risk, as well as the immediate and long-term consequences of abuse for the victim, your organization, and the broader community.
Abuse Defined
Abuse is defined as the physical, psychological, social, emotional, spiritual or sexual mistreatment of another person, which may cause harm, suffering, or exploitation.
Adults can also be vulnerable due to:
- Age
- Psychological and/or emotional issues
- Physical disability or challenges
- Mental health issues or intellectual disabilities
- Other societal factors, including:
- Socioeconomic status
- Immigration status
- Educational barriers
Examples of Abuse
Examples of Abuse:
- Physical
- Sexual
- Emotional and psychological
- Spiritual
- Neglect
- Social
- Financial
Physical Abuse
- Pushing
- Shoving
- Kicking
- Slapping
- Biting
- Burning
Examples of physical abuse:
- Unexplained injuries
- Injuries appearing more often and with increasing severity
- Delays in getting medical care for injuries
- Seems withdrawn, anxious and/or avoids explaining how their injuries happened
Possible indicators of physical abuse:
Sexual Abuse
Examples of sexual abuse:
- Unwanted sexual touching or contact
- Sexual assault
- Exposure to sexual material
- Sexual harassment
- Inappropriate sexual communication
- Sexual exploitation
Difficult to Detect
Possible indicators of sexual abuse:
- A new and unexplained fear of a person or place
- Use of sexually explicit language or behaviour
- Nightmares and/or changes in sleeping habits
- Regressive behaviour
- A noticeable change in performance at school or work
- Delinquency or running away
- Unexplained aggressive behaviour
- Unexplained social regression
- Self-abusive behaviour and/or self-mutilation
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Verbal attacks, harassing, bullying, ignoring, isolating, humiliating, insulting, name-calling and/or scapegoating
Examples of emotional abuse:
Coercing, manipulating, threatening or intimidating
Exploiting and/or controlling another person
Possible Indicators
Possible indicators of emotional and psychological abuse:
- Depression or suicidal tendencies
- Withdrawal or mood changes
- Habit disorders
- Obsessive compulsive behaviours
- Aggressive behaviour
- Weight loss
- Poor hygiene
- Low self-esteem
Spiritual Abuse
Examples of spiritual abuse:
- Using a position of spiritual authority to dominate or manipulate another person or group
- Using a position of spiritual authority to seek inappropriate deference from others
- Ostracizing a person from their spiritual community
- Isolating a person from friends and family members
- Using religious terminology or practices to justify abuse
Neglect
Neglect may lead to:
Emotional, behavioural, social and educational problems
A failure to thrive
General poor health, including malnutrition
Physical injuries
Social Abuse
Examples of social abuse:
- Limiting contact with family, friends, or peers
- Preventing participation in school, work, or community activities
- Controlling communication, such as restricting phone calls, messages, or internet access
- Excluding someone from social or cultural events
- Using threats, shame, or guilt to isolate a person from their social support.
Financial Abuse
According to the Government of Canada, financial abuse is the most frequent form of abuse experienced by elderly Canadians.
Perpetrators of financial abuse will typically force or trick their victims into:
- Lending or giving them money
- Making changes to a will or power of attorney
- Selling property or valuable possessions and then keeping part or all of the proceeds for themselves
- Signing legal or financial documents that they don’t understand
Imbalance of Power
The abusive act is usually committed by someone who is in a position of power, such as an employee, volunteer, teacher, activity leader, trusted family friend or another family member. In almost all cases, the abuser is known to and is trusted by the victim, and their relationship has developed over time.
Long-Lasting Effects
The effects of abuse:
- Depression and anxiety
- Withdrawal
- Low self-esteem and self-worth
- Emotional instability
- Sleep disturbances
- Physical pain without cause
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Extreme dependence on the abuser
Other Consequences
Your #1 priority is always to protect everyone in your care through proactive prevention strategies.
- Reputational Damage
- Financial Costs
- Internal Strain
Negative impacts on your organization can include:
- Public Scrutiny
- Erosion of Confidence
Negative impacts on the community include:
The Legal Environment
The Legal Environment
Vicarious liability
In Canada, the legal environment places specific responsibilities on organizations that guide how they operate and make decisions. As your organization may serve a vulnerable community, it is important to have an appreciation for and an understanding of the following specific legal terms, including:
Fiduciary duty
Limitation periods
Canadian Law
- Deals with actions that cause harm or injury to another individual.
- In most cases, remedies involve monetary compensation to the injured party.
Civil Law:
The Criminal Code:
- Addresses behaviours considered offences against the public.
- Punishments can include imprisonment or other legal sanctions.
Both the Criminal Code and Civil Law protect children, youth and vulnerable adults from abuse.
Vicarious Liability
Vicarious liability allows an organization to be held responsible for the wrongful actions of its employees or volunteers if those actions occur while they are performing their role with the organization. This is because your organization owes a duty of care to anyone it serves.
Example:A staff member in a youth program abuses a child. As a result of the abuse, the child can file a civil claim against both the staff member and the organization, because the organization provided the position and environment that allowed the abuse to occur.
Fiduciary Liability
Where there’s an imbalance of power in a relationship – like one between an adult and child, priest and parishioner, or teacher and student – the law requires that the fiduciary (i.e., the adult, priest or teacher) exercise the highest standard of care.
Limitation Period
A limitation period is the legally defined maximum time after an event occurs during which a civil action can be initiated. Most civil claims must be filed within two years of the event, unless a specific exception applies.
The courts have recognized that victims of sexual or physical abuse are often unable to report the abuse or fully understand its impact in the short term. For this reason, the limitation period has been modified for abuse claims, ensuring victims can seek justice regardless of how much time has passed.
Zero Tolerance
There is zero tolerance for institutional abuse. Courts are handing down judgments larger than ever to compensate victims, highlighting the critical importance of having robust abuse prevention and reporting policies in place.
High-Risk Situations and Behaviours
High-Risk Situations and Behaviours
High-risk situations and behaviours that can and do lead to potential abusive situations, include:
- Grooming
- Unobserved one-on-one interactions
- Inappropriate touch
- Unusual/unsanctioned activities
- Thinking it could never happen in your organization
Grooming
The grooming process begins with identifying potential victims, gaining their trust and breaking down their defences. These grooming tactics are often directed at children and youth, as well as the parents or adult caregiver, other youth-serving professionals and the community at large. Vulnerable adults, particularly those suffering from mental health-related disabilities, are becoming increasingly susceptible to this type of predatory activity, too.
How Grooming Goes Undetected
Groomers are often individuals known to the victim and their family, such as acquaintances, trusted friends, influential community members, or even family members. In many cases, the groomer gains access to the victim through an organization or activity in which the child, youth, or vulnerable adult willingly participates – such as school, a club, member group or society, community-based program, or a religious institution.
Why Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults are Susceptible to Grooming
Children, youth, and vulnerable adults may be particularly susceptible to grooming for several reasons, including:
- Trust in authority figures
- Desire for approval or belonging
- Limited understanding of boundaries
- Dependency on caregivers or support persons
- Fear of consequences or not being believed
- Communication barriers
- Gradual nature of grooming
Grooming
The groomer will attempt to:
- Identify and target the victim
- Gain their trust and access
- Gain the trust of the victim’s parents or legal guardians
- Play a role in the victim’s life
- Isolate the victim where possible
- Create secrecy around the relationship
- Violate the victim’s personal space
- Initiate sexual contact
- Control the relationship
Perpetrators of abuse often present themselves as outgoing, personable, charismatic, and highly credible, making them difficult to identify at first glance.
Grooming Indicators
Several indicators might suggest a child or vulnerable person is being groomed for sexual exploitation, these include:
Indicators include:
- Appearing overly secretive and unwilling to talk about what they’re up to on computers, other electronic devices or social media
- Spending long hours alone online
- Going missing for periods of time or regularly returning home late
- Appearing with unexplained gifts or new possessions
- Displaying changes in temperament, mood swings or changes in emotional well-being
Unobserved One-on-One Interactions
There may be occasions when employees or volunteers may find themselves alone with a child, youth or vulnerable adult. If so, all interactions must be visible and observable, even from a distance. This can be done by keeping doors open or interacting in rooms with internal windows.
Inappropriate Touch
Inappropriate touch is any physical contact that is unwelcome, unnecessary, or intended to control, intimidate, or sexually exploit a child, youth, or vulnerable adult. Examples include:
- Touching intimate or private areas of the body
- Kissing, hugging, or caressing
- Using touch to punish, humiliate, or assert control
- Sexual or suggestive contact
Appropriate Boundaries for “Touch”
Examples include:
- Fist bumps, handshakes and high-fives
- A gentle pat on the shoulder or back for a job well done
- Using appropriate verbal praise, recognition and encouragement
- Holding hands whilst walking especially when crossing a busy street or in crowded environments
- Sitting quietly with a child, youth or vulnerable adult
- Positive and appropriate eye contact
All of these examples of touch should be premised on consent from the child, youth, or vulnerable adult.
Unusual or Unsanctioned Events
Unusual or unsanctioned events can pose a significant risk to an organization because, while they may appear to be endorsed activities, they often occur without the usual safeguards or controls in place. For example, a staff member or volunteer may want to take a small group of children on a camping trip. Even if this activity has happened for several years without incident and both the children and parents enjoy it, it may fall outside the scope of the organization’s standard policies and procedures.
Prevention & Mitigation
Abuse Can Happen Anywhere
It’s easy to think: “We’re a small, close-knit organization, and we all know each other, so that type of thing just wouldn’t happen." Unfortunately, there have been too many incidents of abuse across Canada that render the above statement not only untrue, but also dangerously misguided and complacent.
Best Practices
There are five key components of any Abuse Prevention Policy:
- Screening and selection of employees and volunteers
- Creating guidelines on interactions between individuals
- Ensuring safe and healthy spaces
- Monitoring and responding to inappropriate behavior, breaches in policy and allegations and suspicions of abuse
- Training and education about abuse prevention
Screening & Selection
Step 1: Screening and Selection of Employees and Volunteers
Selection Criteria
- Possess the relevant qualifications, training and experience for the role in question
- Have completed a formal, written application and/or a personal interview
Anyone applying for a position of trust involving interaction with children, youth and vulnerable adults should:
- Provide appropriate references to support their application
- Provide a satisfactory criminal record check, including the vulnerable sector screening component
Ongoing Supervision
Supervise, manage and monitor both staff and volunteers who hold positions of trust within your organization on an ongoing basis.
Creating Guidelines
Step 2: Creating Guidelines on Interactions Between Individuals
Examples of specific actions or measures include:
The requirement for an “unrelated adult” to supervise specific activities
No off-site activities with a child or group of children can take place without the written permission of the parent or guardian
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, cannabis, and illegal drugs are strictly prohibited at all youth/child events or activities
Hazing, together with harassment of any form, is strictly prohibited.
Two-Adult Rule
The two-adult rule requires that no fewer than two adults be present at all times during any organization-related activity involving children, youth or vulnerable adults. One of the adults may be a parent or legal guardian. The main purpose is to increase accountability and decrease isolation.
There are many benefits, including:
- Significant decrease in the risk of an incident of abuse
- Decrease in the likelihood of a predator hanging around if in sight of another adult
- Protection against false accusations
- Reduction in liability and possible claims of negligence
- Additional help if there’s an accident or emergency
Safe Spaces
Step 3: Ensuring Safe and Healthy Spaces
Visibility
- Have clear lines of sight throughout the building.
- Secure areas not used for program purposes, like closets and storerooms, to prevent a child, youth or vulnerable adult from being isolated.
- Install windows in doors, especially where activities involving children, youth and vulnerable adults will take place.
- Institute an open-door policy.
- Ensure that lighting levels are adequate throughout the facility.
Methods to increase visibility:
Consideration also needs to be given to the following related and sponsored activities:
- Transportation
- Field trips
- Outings
- Camps
- Other overnight stays
Monitoring & Responding
Step 4: Monitoring and Responding to Inappropriate Behaviour, Breaches in Policy and Allegations and Suspicions of Abuse
Quick Response
Clear guidance ensures that employees and volunteers understand their duty to respond, report, and cooperate with internal procedures and external authorities as required by law. The goal of any policy is to respond quickly and appropriately to:
Evidence or allegations of abuse
Any infractions of the policy
Inappropriate or harmful behaviour
Education & Training
Many believe that abuse, in particular child sexual abuse, won’t happen in their organization, or that no one they know could be an abuser. This illusion is dangerous to both your organization and the vulnerable individuals it serves. Abusers, especially sexual abusers, intentionally seek out environments where protective measures are weakest and where the fewest barriers exist between employees and volunteers, and the children, youth and vulnerable adults they serve.
Step 5: Education & Training
Awareness Education
All new staff and volunteers should undergo a detailed orientation program, which must include training in relation to not only abuse awareness, but also an introduction to the policies and procedures in place to protect children, youth and vulnerable adults within your organization.
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
Addressing Allegations
The specific purpose of the policy should be thoughtfully and sensitively developed to:
- Protect and support any vulnerable person and provide a quick response to any allegation of abuse
- Protect the reputation of an accused employee or volunteer
- Protect the integrity of your organization by showing that allegations are taken seriously
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
Many provinces and territories have mandatory reporting laws for abuse of “vulnerable adults” or “adults in care.” In these cases, certain professionals such as healthcare workers, social workers, and care facility staff must report suspected abuse to the appropriate authority.
Complaints by Adults
It’s open to the person receiving the report of abuse to:
- Assist the victim in withdrawing from a situation that invites further abuse
- Refer the victim to the responsible policing authority
- Encourage the victim to speak to a professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, lawyer or doctor
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
Child and Family Services Legislation
Because children are generally not in a position to protect themselves from abuse, the law provides special protection for them. Essentially, where a person has information that leads them to reasonably believe that a child is, or might be, in need of protection as provided in the applicable Child and Family Services Legislation in your jurisdiction, that person shall immediately report the information to the appropriate Child and Family Services agency or to a parent or guardian of the child.
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
A child is deemed to be “in need” of protection where the child:
- Is without adequate care, supervision or control
- Is in the care, custody, control or charge of a person:
- Who is unable or unwilling to provide adequate care
- Whose conduct endangers or might endanger the life of the child
- Who neglects or refuses to provide or obtain proper medical or other remedial care or necessary treatment
- Who, being under 12 years old, is left unattended
Child in Need of Protection
Duty to Report
Provincial and Territorial Child and Family Services Legislation imposes clear duties to report any and all information, even where the person has acquired this information through the discharge of his or her professional duties or within the confines of a confidential relationship, other than any privilege that may exist because of the relationship between a solicitor and the solicitor’s client.
Checkpoint
After taking this course, you should be able to:
- Define the types of abuse and discuss who is most at risk
- Discuss the legal environment
- Recall high-risk situations and behaviours
- Apply the best practices in place to protect children, youth and vulnerable adults
- Describe your duties for reporting incidents of abuse
Additional Resources
Click on an image below for more information.
Guidelines for Developing a Safety and Protection Policy
Working With Vulnerable People
Safe From Harm In Retirement Communities & Long-Term Care Homes
Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals
Quiz
Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals
Quiz
Start
Question 1
True or false: Only children are at risk for abuse.
True
False
1/12
Question 1
True or false: Only children are at risk for abuse.
Correct!
Next
True
False
1/12
Question 1
True or false: Only children are at risk for abuse.
Incorrect
Return
True
False
1/12
Question 2
In most cases, abusers or groomers are to the victim and their family.
Unknown
Known
2/12
Question 2
In most cases, abusers or groomers are to the victim and their family.
Correct!
Unknown
Known
Next
2/12
Question 2
In most cases, abusers or groomers are to the victim and their family.
Incorrect
Unknown
Known
Return
2/12
Question 3
The power dynamic often:
Serves to keep the victim silent.
Results in the victim suppressing painful memories because of fear or shame.
Often allows abuse cases to go unreported.
All of the above.
3/12
Question 3
The power dynamic often:
Correct!
Serves to keep the victim silent.
Results in the victim suppressing painful memories because of fear or shame.
Often allows abuse cases to go unreported.
All of the above.
Next
3/12
Question 3
The power dynamic often:
Incorrect
Serves to keep the victim silent.
Results in the victim suppressing painful memories because of fear or shame.
Often allows abuse cases to go unreported.
All of the above.
Return
3/12
Question 4
Emotional abuse is the failure to provide for a person's basic needs, including food, clothing, adequate shelter, supervision, education and medical care.
True
False
4/12
Question 4
Emotional abuse is the failure to provide for a person's basic needs, including food, clothing, adequate shelter, supervision, education and medical care.
Correct!
True
False
Next
4/12
Question 4
Emotional abuse is the failure to provide for a person's basic needs, including food, clothing, adequate shelter, supervision, education and medical care.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
4/12
Question 5
Sexual abuse can be extremely difficult to detect, but there may be warning signs that indicate it could be occurring.
True
False
5/12
Question 5
Sexual abuse can be extremely difficult to detect, but there may be warning signs that indicate it could be occurring.
Correct!
True
False
Next
5/12
Question 5
Sexual abuse can be extremely difficult to detect, but there may be warning signs that indicate it could be occurring.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
5/12
Question 6
Exercising the highest standard of care over a child or vulnerable adult is an example of:
Fiduciary duty
Vicarious liability
6/12
Question 6
Exercising the highest standard of care over a child or vulnerable adult is an example of:
Correct!
Fiduciary duty
Vicarious liability
Next
6/12
Question 6
Exercising the highest standard of care over a child or vulnerable adult is an example of:
Incorrect
Fiduciary duty
Vicarious liability
Return
6/12
Question 7
There’s a basic two-year limitation period for all abuse claims.
True
False
7/12
Question 7
There’s a basic two-year limitation period for all abuse claims.
Correct!
True
False
Next
7/12
Question 7
There’s a basic two-year limitation period for all abuse claims.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
7/12
Question 8
Your organization can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of an employee or volunteer.
True
False
8/12
Question 8
Your organization can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of an employee or volunteer.
Correct!
Correct!
True
False
Next
Next
8/12
Question 8
Your organization can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of an employee or volunteer.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
8/12
Question 9
Perpetrators of abuse tend to be:
Outgoing, personable, charismatic
Solitary, quiet, aloof
9/12
Question 9
Perpetrators of abuse tend to be:
Correct!
Outgoing, personable, charismatic
Solitary, quiet, aloof
Next
9/12
Question 9
Perpetrators of abuse tend to be:
Incorrect
Outgoing, personable, charismatic
Solitary, quiet, aloof
Return
9/12
Question 10
Abuse policies don’t apply to organizations with small, close-knit communities.
True
False
10/12
Question 10
Abuse policies don’t apply to organizations with small, close-knit communities.
Correct!
True
False
Next
10/12
Question 10
Abuse policies don’t apply to organizations with small, close-knit communities.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
10/12
Question 11
Anyone applying for a position of trust involving interaction with children, youth and other vulnerable individuals must:
Provide appropriate references to support his or her application
Provide a clean criminal record check, including the child abuse registry check component
All of the above
Possess the relevant qualifications, training and experience for the role in question
11/12
Question 11
Anyone applying for a position of trust involving interaction with children, youth and other vulnerable individuals must:
Correct!
Provide appropriate references to support his or her application
Provide a clean criminal record check, including the child abuse registry check component
All of the above
Possess the relevant qualifications, training and experience for the role in question
Next
11/12
Question 11
Anyone applying for a position of trust involving interaction with children, youth and other vulnerable individuals must:
Incorrect
Provide appropriate references to support his or her application
Provide a clean criminal record check, including the child abuse registry check component
All of the above
Possess the relevant qualifications, training and experience for the role in question
Return
11/12
Question 12
What specific and fundamental procedure can immediately increase the safety of children and other vulnerable individuals, while reducing organizational liability?
Two-adult rule
Increased visibility
12/12
Question 12
What specific and fundamental procedure can immediately increase the safety of children and other vulnerable individuals, while reducing organizational liability?
Correct!
Two-adult rule
Increased visibility
Next
12/12
Question 12
What specific and fundamental procedure can immediately increase the safety of children and other vulnerable individuals, while reducing organizational liability?
Incorrect
Two-adult rule
Increased visibility
Return
12/12
Congratulations on completing our quiz!
Please click here to download your certificate of completion.
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Ecclesiastical Insurance is a specialist provider of unique insurance solutions and services dedicated to the protection and preservation of Canada's distinct communities, cultures, and heritage. We are proud to be part of the Benefact Group - a charity owned, international family of financial services companies that gives all available profits to charity and good causes. We are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best. For more information on our products and unique Risk Management services, please visit www.ecclesiastical.ca.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals
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Transcript
Welcome to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals course
This training course contains audio which will begin on the next slide.
let's Begin
You may mute the audio at any time using the Sound Icon in the bottom right corner of this presentation. (Not recommended)
Content Notice
This training module addresses safeguarding, including topics related to physical and sexual abuse. Some of the material may be sensitive, distressing, or triggering for participants. We recognize that individuals may have personal or professional experiences that make this content difficult to engage with. We encourage you to proceed at a pace that feels appropriate for you, and to take breaks as needed. If you feel affected by the material, please consider reaching out to a trusted colleague, supervisor, or a professional support resource available to you. This training is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to help prevent harm, respond appropriately to concerns, and support safer environments for those in your care.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals:
Awareness, Prevention & Response
Start
Getting Started
Click the home button top right to return to the Table of Contents
You can hover over select images to learn more
Use the left or right arrows to move between slides
Introduction
High-Risk Situations & Behaviours
Abuse Defined
Prevention & Reporting
Table of Contents
Quiz
Legal Responsibilities
Introduction
As an organization that serves children, youth, and/or vulnerable adults, you have a fundamental responsibility to safeguard the safety, dignity, and well-being of those in your care. This responsibility includes taking active steps to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to physical and sexual abuse.
Objectives
By the end of this course you should be able to:
Abuse Defined
We will examine the definition of abuse and explore the various forms it can take. This will help us better understand who may be at risk, as well as the immediate and long-term consequences of abuse for the victim, your organization, and the broader community.
Abuse Defined
Abuse is defined as the physical, psychological, social, emotional, spiritual or sexual mistreatment of another person, which may cause harm, suffering, or exploitation.
Adults can also be vulnerable due to:
Examples of Abuse
Examples of Abuse:
Physical Abuse
Examples of physical abuse:
Possible indicators of physical abuse:
Sexual Abuse
Examples of sexual abuse:
Difficult to Detect
Possible indicators of sexual abuse:
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Verbal attacks, harassing, bullying, ignoring, isolating, humiliating, insulting, name-calling and/or scapegoating
Examples of emotional abuse:
Coercing, manipulating, threatening or intimidating
Exploiting and/or controlling another person
Possible Indicators
Possible indicators of emotional and psychological abuse:
Spiritual Abuse
Examples of spiritual abuse:
Neglect
Neglect may lead to:
Emotional, behavioural, social and educational problems
A failure to thrive
General poor health, including malnutrition
Physical injuries
Social Abuse
Examples of social abuse:
Financial Abuse
According to the Government of Canada, financial abuse is the most frequent form of abuse experienced by elderly Canadians.
Perpetrators of financial abuse will typically force or trick their victims into:
Imbalance of Power
The abusive act is usually committed by someone who is in a position of power, such as an employee, volunteer, teacher, activity leader, trusted family friend or another family member. In almost all cases, the abuser is known to and is trusted by the victim, and their relationship has developed over time.
Long-Lasting Effects
The effects of abuse:
Other Consequences
Your #1 priority is always to protect everyone in your care through proactive prevention strategies.
Negative impacts on your organization can include:
Negative impacts on the community include:
The Legal Environment
The Legal Environment
Vicarious liability
In Canada, the legal environment places specific responsibilities on organizations that guide how they operate and make decisions. As your organization may serve a vulnerable community, it is important to have an appreciation for and an understanding of the following specific legal terms, including:
Fiduciary duty
Limitation periods
Canadian Law
Civil Law:
The Criminal Code:
Both the Criminal Code and Civil Law protect children, youth and vulnerable adults from abuse.
Vicarious Liability
Vicarious liability allows an organization to be held responsible for the wrongful actions of its employees or volunteers if those actions occur while they are performing their role with the organization. This is because your organization owes a duty of care to anyone it serves.
Example:A staff member in a youth program abuses a child. As a result of the abuse, the child can file a civil claim against both the staff member and the organization, because the organization provided the position and environment that allowed the abuse to occur.
Fiduciary Liability
Where there’s an imbalance of power in a relationship – like one between an adult and child, priest and parishioner, or teacher and student – the law requires that the fiduciary (i.e., the adult, priest or teacher) exercise the highest standard of care.
Limitation Period
A limitation period is the legally defined maximum time after an event occurs during which a civil action can be initiated. Most civil claims must be filed within two years of the event, unless a specific exception applies.
The courts have recognized that victims of sexual or physical abuse are often unable to report the abuse or fully understand its impact in the short term. For this reason, the limitation period has been modified for abuse claims, ensuring victims can seek justice regardless of how much time has passed.
Zero Tolerance
There is zero tolerance for institutional abuse. Courts are handing down judgments larger than ever to compensate victims, highlighting the critical importance of having robust abuse prevention and reporting policies in place.
High-Risk Situations and Behaviours
High-Risk Situations and Behaviours
High-risk situations and behaviours that can and do lead to potential abusive situations, include:
Grooming
The grooming process begins with identifying potential victims, gaining their trust and breaking down their defences. These grooming tactics are often directed at children and youth, as well as the parents or adult caregiver, other youth-serving professionals and the community at large. Vulnerable adults, particularly those suffering from mental health-related disabilities, are becoming increasingly susceptible to this type of predatory activity, too.
How Grooming Goes Undetected
Groomers are often individuals known to the victim and their family, such as acquaintances, trusted friends, influential community members, or even family members. In many cases, the groomer gains access to the victim through an organization or activity in which the child, youth, or vulnerable adult willingly participates – such as school, a club, member group or society, community-based program, or a religious institution.
Why Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults are Susceptible to Grooming
Children, youth, and vulnerable adults may be particularly susceptible to grooming for several reasons, including:
Grooming
The groomer will attempt to:
Perpetrators of abuse often present themselves as outgoing, personable, charismatic, and highly credible, making them difficult to identify at first glance.
Grooming Indicators
Several indicators might suggest a child or vulnerable person is being groomed for sexual exploitation, these include:
Indicators include:
Unobserved One-on-One Interactions
There may be occasions when employees or volunteers may find themselves alone with a child, youth or vulnerable adult. If so, all interactions must be visible and observable, even from a distance. This can be done by keeping doors open or interacting in rooms with internal windows.
Inappropriate Touch
Inappropriate touch is any physical contact that is unwelcome, unnecessary, or intended to control, intimidate, or sexually exploit a child, youth, or vulnerable adult. Examples include:
Appropriate Boundaries for “Touch”
Examples include:
All of these examples of touch should be premised on consent from the child, youth, or vulnerable adult.
Unusual or Unsanctioned Events
Unusual or unsanctioned events can pose a significant risk to an organization because, while they may appear to be endorsed activities, they often occur without the usual safeguards or controls in place. For example, a staff member or volunteer may want to take a small group of children on a camping trip. Even if this activity has happened for several years without incident and both the children and parents enjoy it, it may fall outside the scope of the organization’s standard policies and procedures.
Prevention & Mitigation
Abuse Can Happen Anywhere
It’s easy to think: “We’re a small, close-knit organization, and we all know each other, so that type of thing just wouldn’t happen." Unfortunately, there have been too many incidents of abuse across Canada that render the above statement not only untrue, but also dangerously misguided and complacent.
Best Practices
There are five key components of any Abuse Prevention Policy:
Screening & Selection
Step 1: Screening and Selection of Employees and Volunteers
Selection Criteria
Anyone applying for a position of trust involving interaction with children, youth and vulnerable adults should:
Ongoing Supervision
Supervise, manage and monitor both staff and volunteers who hold positions of trust within your organization on an ongoing basis.
Creating Guidelines
Step 2: Creating Guidelines on Interactions Between Individuals
Examples of specific actions or measures include:
The requirement for an “unrelated adult” to supervise specific activities
No off-site activities with a child or group of children can take place without the written permission of the parent or guardian
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, cannabis, and illegal drugs are strictly prohibited at all youth/child events or activities
Hazing, together with harassment of any form, is strictly prohibited.
Two-Adult Rule
The two-adult rule requires that no fewer than two adults be present at all times during any organization-related activity involving children, youth or vulnerable adults. One of the adults may be a parent or legal guardian. The main purpose is to increase accountability and decrease isolation.
There are many benefits, including:
Safe Spaces
Step 3: Ensuring Safe and Healthy Spaces
Visibility
Methods to increase visibility:
Consideration also needs to be given to the following related and sponsored activities:
Monitoring & Responding
Step 4: Monitoring and Responding to Inappropriate Behaviour, Breaches in Policy and Allegations and Suspicions of Abuse
Quick Response
Clear guidance ensures that employees and volunteers understand their duty to respond, report, and cooperate with internal procedures and external authorities as required by law. The goal of any policy is to respond quickly and appropriately to:
Evidence or allegations of abuse
Any infractions of the policy
Inappropriate or harmful behaviour
Education & Training
Many believe that abuse, in particular child sexual abuse, won’t happen in their organization, or that no one they know could be an abuser. This illusion is dangerous to both your organization and the vulnerable individuals it serves. Abusers, especially sexual abusers, intentionally seek out environments where protective measures are weakest and where the fewest barriers exist between employees and volunteers, and the children, youth and vulnerable adults they serve.
Step 5: Education & Training
Awareness Education
All new staff and volunteers should undergo a detailed orientation program, which must include training in relation to not only abuse awareness, but also an introduction to the policies and procedures in place to protect children, youth and vulnerable adults within your organization.
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
Addressing Allegations
The specific purpose of the policy should be thoughtfully and sensitively developed to:
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
Many provinces and territories have mandatory reporting laws for abuse of “vulnerable adults” or “adults in care.” In these cases, certain professionals such as healthcare workers, social workers, and care facility staff must report suspected abuse to the appropriate authority.
Complaints by Adults
It’s open to the person receiving the report of abuse to:
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
Child and Family Services Legislation
Because children are generally not in a position to protect themselves from abuse, the law provides special protection for them. Essentially, where a person has information that leads them to reasonably believe that a child is, or might be, in need of protection as provided in the applicable Child and Family Services Legislation in your jurisdiction, that person shall immediately report the information to the appropriate Child and Family Services agency or to a parent or guardian of the child.
Reporting Incidents of Abuse
A child is deemed to be “in need” of protection where the child:
Child in Need of Protection
Duty to Report
Provincial and Territorial Child and Family Services Legislation imposes clear duties to report any and all information, even where the person has acquired this information through the discharge of his or her professional duties or within the confines of a confidential relationship, other than any privilege that may exist because of the relationship between a solicitor and the solicitor’s client.
Checkpoint
After taking this course, you should be able to:
Additional Resources
Click on an image below for more information.
Guidelines for Developing a Safety and Protection Policy
Working With Vulnerable People
Safe From Harm In Retirement Communities & Long-Term Care Homes
Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals
Quiz
Safeguarding Vulnerable Individuals
Quiz
Start
Question 1
True or false: Only children are at risk for abuse.
True
False
1/12
Question 1
True or false: Only children are at risk for abuse.
Correct!
Next
True
False
1/12
Question 1
True or false: Only children are at risk for abuse.
Incorrect
Return
True
False
1/12
Question 2
In most cases, abusers or groomers are to the victim and their family.
Unknown
Known
2/12
Question 2
In most cases, abusers or groomers are to the victim and their family.
Correct!
Unknown
Known
Next
2/12
Question 2
In most cases, abusers or groomers are to the victim and their family.
Incorrect
Unknown
Known
Return
2/12
Question 3
The power dynamic often:
Serves to keep the victim silent.
Results in the victim suppressing painful memories because of fear or shame.
Often allows abuse cases to go unreported.
All of the above.
3/12
Question 3
The power dynamic often:
Correct!
Serves to keep the victim silent.
Results in the victim suppressing painful memories because of fear or shame.
Often allows abuse cases to go unreported.
All of the above.
Next
3/12
Question 3
The power dynamic often:
Incorrect
Serves to keep the victim silent.
Results in the victim suppressing painful memories because of fear or shame.
Often allows abuse cases to go unreported.
All of the above.
Return
3/12
Question 4
Emotional abuse is the failure to provide for a person's basic needs, including food, clothing, adequate shelter, supervision, education and medical care.
True
False
4/12
Question 4
Emotional abuse is the failure to provide for a person's basic needs, including food, clothing, adequate shelter, supervision, education and medical care.
Correct!
True
False
Next
4/12
Question 4
Emotional abuse is the failure to provide for a person's basic needs, including food, clothing, adequate shelter, supervision, education and medical care.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
4/12
Question 5
Sexual abuse can be extremely difficult to detect, but there may be warning signs that indicate it could be occurring.
True
False
5/12
Question 5
Sexual abuse can be extremely difficult to detect, but there may be warning signs that indicate it could be occurring.
Correct!
True
False
Next
5/12
Question 5
Sexual abuse can be extremely difficult to detect, but there may be warning signs that indicate it could be occurring.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
5/12
Question 6
Exercising the highest standard of care over a child or vulnerable adult is an example of:
Fiduciary duty
Vicarious liability
6/12
Question 6
Exercising the highest standard of care over a child or vulnerable adult is an example of:
Correct!
Fiduciary duty
Vicarious liability
Next
6/12
Question 6
Exercising the highest standard of care over a child or vulnerable adult is an example of:
Incorrect
Fiduciary duty
Vicarious liability
Return
6/12
Question 7
There’s a basic two-year limitation period for all abuse claims.
True
False
7/12
Question 7
There’s a basic two-year limitation period for all abuse claims.
Correct!
True
False
Next
7/12
Question 7
There’s a basic two-year limitation period for all abuse claims.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
7/12
Question 8
Your organization can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of an employee or volunteer.
True
False
8/12
Question 8
Your organization can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of an employee or volunteer.
Correct!
Correct!
True
False
Next
Next
8/12
Question 8
Your organization can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of an employee or volunteer.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
8/12
Question 9
Perpetrators of abuse tend to be:
Outgoing, personable, charismatic
Solitary, quiet, aloof
9/12
Question 9
Perpetrators of abuse tend to be:
Correct!
Outgoing, personable, charismatic
Solitary, quiet, aloof
Next
9/12
Question 9
Perpetrators of abuse tend to be:
Incorrect
Outgoing, personable, charismatic
Solitary, quiet, aloof
Return
9/12
Question 10
Abuse policies don’t apply to organizations with small, close-knit communities.
True
False
10/12
Question 10
Abuse policies don’t apply to organizations with small, close-knit communities.
Correct!
True
False
Next
10/12
Question 10
Abuse policies don’t apply to organizations with small, close-knit communities.
Incorrect
True
False
Return
10/12
Question 11
Anyone applying for a position of trust involving interaction with children, youth and other vulnerable individuals must:
Provide appropriate references to support his or her application
Provide a clean criminal record check, including the child abuse registry check component
All of the above
Possess the relevant qualifications, training and experience for the role in question
11/12
Question 11
Anyone applying for a position of trust involving interaction with children, youth and other vulnerable individuals must:
Correct!
Provide appropriate references to support his or her application
Provide a clean criminal record check, including the child abuse registry check component
All of the above
Possess the relevant qualifications, training and experience for the role in question
Next
11/12
Question 11
Anyone applying for a position of trust involving interaction with children, youth and other vulnerable individuals must:
Incorrect
Provide appropriate references to support his or her application
Provide a clean criminal record check, including the child abuse registry check component
All of the above
Possess the relevant qualifications, training and experience for the role in question
Return
11/12
Question 12
What specific and fundamental procedure can immediately increase the safety of children and other vulnerable individuals, while reducing organizational liability?
Two-adult rule
Increased visibility
12/12
Question 12
What specific and fundamental procedure can immediately increase the safety of children and other vulnerable individuals, while reducing organizational liability?
Correct!
Two-adult rule
Increased visibility
Next
12/12
Question 12
What specific and fundamental procedure can immediately increase the safety of children and other vulnerable individuals, while reducing organizational liability?
Incorrect
Two-adult rule
Increased visibility
Return
12/12
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