The Protecteur du citoyen received a report about Ressource intermédiaire La Victorienne, located in Gatineau. The resource is under contract with Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO). It houses adults with impairments, autism spectrum disorders or severe behavioural disorders.
Seemingly, the resource is grappling with recurrent problems. The CISSSO established improvement plans, but the results are unsatisfactory.
For the residents’ safety, the Protecteur du citoyen decided to intervene.
Intervention
There have been serious and persistent problems ever since the resource opened. Some practices have been improved, but critical staff shortages have created further complications.
Recently, the CISSSO made several recommendations to the resource. Among other aspects, they concern medication management and nursing care organization.
The Protecteur du citoyen’s investigation also revealed various problems, including the following:
- Supervision and support of certain residents is sorely insufficient;
- Staff are not properly trained to intervene regarding this clientele with special profiles.
The investigation also showed that a recovery plan had been drawn up in 2013 for a resource managed by the same owner but located in another region. Major problems had been seen. Despite this, the CISSSO approved the proposal to create Ressource intermédiaire La Victorienne. As the Protecteur du citoyen sees it, this proposal should have been better evaluated.
Recommendations
The Protecteur du citoyen made ten recommendations to the CISSSO for rectifying the situation. The institution accepted all of them and the Protecteur du citoyen will keep a close eye on their implementation.
