# Standard Overview The Standards of Practice establish the minimum expectations for all occupational therapists in Ontario. They describe how occupational therapists will provide safe, quality, ethical, accountable, and effective services. The Standards apply to all registrants of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (“the College”), regardless of practice setting, job title, or role. The Standards, together with the Code of Ethics, Competencies, and Practice Guidance, establish the expectations for professional practice and the delivery of occupational therapy services.  The Standards are based on core occupational therapy principles outlined in the Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada (2021). The College monitors and revises Standards regularly through its committees, subcommittees, focus groups, and panels. The College consults with registrants and the public to ensure the Standards include core practice elements before seeking approval by the College’s Board of Directors. Registrant input is vital to ensuring the Standards reflect changing practice environments and expectations. Data from College committees and program areas such as Investigations and Resolutions, Quality Assurance, Registration, and the Practice Resource Service helps the College keep the Standards current. How the Standards are used Clients and the public Occupational therapy clients and the public use the Standards to understand what they can expect from occupational therapists. These expectations include knowing that services are being provided in ways that are accessible, culturally sensitive, equitable, and inclusive. The College The College uses the Standards in all statutory programs to ensure that applicants and registrants have the competencies and skills to practise effectively, to address questions or concerns about a registrant’s practice, and to review and support the provision of quality services. Failure to comply with the Standards constitutes professional misconduct (Ontario Regulation 95/07, s. 1 [1]). The College’s Practice Resource Service is available as an additional resource to help registrants and the public if they have questions about the Standards and occupational therapy practice. The Practice Service is confidential and available at 416-214-1177 or practice@coto.org. Occupational therapists Clinical and non-clinical occupational therapists are expected to use these Standards in their daily practice and, when requested by the College, be able to demonstrate how their practice meets the performance indicators. Occupational therapists must be able to provide a reasonable rationale when a Standard was not met, including when contextual factors required a deviation from the expectations. In applying the Standards, occupational therapists must use professional judgement in the following ways: Determine how to best meet client needs in accordance with the Standards. Understand that these Standards are the College’s interpretation of regulatory and practice expectations. When Standards and legislation conflict, the legislation prevails. If workplace policies conflict with the Standards, collaborate with their employers to identify and work toward resolving the differences in clients' best interests. Employers Employers of occupational therapists use the Standards to know and follow the College’s expectations of occupational therapists working at their organization. Educators and students Educators and students use the Standards to inform curriculum and placement expectations. The College uses the term “client” to align with the Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada. It states that clients are “people of any age, along with their families, caregivers, and substitute decision makers. Therapists may also work with collectives such as families, groups, communities, and the public at large” (2021, p. 19). The term “clients” applies to people and organizations that occupational therapists work with in both clinical and non-clinical settings. The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) uses the term “patients” to refer to people receiving care from regulated health professionals. This definition is not as broad as the term “client” used in the Competencies. In these Standards, the College uses the broader term “client” with one exception: it remains consistent with the RHPA by using the term “patient” when referring to sexual abuse legislation. The term “service” is used throughout these Standards to encompass all aspects of occupational therapy, including assessment, intervention, and consultation. “Service” also includes non-clinical roles or activities completed by occupational therapists in their practice setting (for example, leading education sessions, coordinating services, researching, or teaching). As one document, the Standards are sorted alphabetically by title. Each Standard contains: An introduction to the main topic explaining why the Standard is important Performance indicators or specific behaviours that show how the Standard is to be met A list of further references, including College, legislative, and regulatory documents Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations, Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs, and Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. (2021). Competencies for occupational therapists in Canada. https://acotro-acore.org/sites/default/files/uploads/ot_competency_document_en_hires.pdf College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. (2020). Code of Ethics. https://www.coto.org/resources/code-of-ethics Occupational Therapy Act, 1991, Statutes of Ontario (1991, c. 33). Retrieved from the Government of Ontario website: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/91o33 Ontario Regulation 95/07, Professional Misconduct. (2007). Retrieved from the Government of Ontario website: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/070095 Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, Statutes of Ontario (1991, c. 18). Retrieved from the Government of Ontario website: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/91r18