Safeguarding and abuse prevention

1. Zero tolerance

Bayfern Home Care Inc. does not tolerate abuse, neglect or exploitation of any client, by anyone. This applies to our staff, other providers, family members and visitors. Any staff member found to have abused a client will be removed from client care immediately and reported to the police and the appropriate authorities.

2. What counts as abuse and neglect

• Physical: hitting, rough handling, or improper restraint.
• Emotional: threats, insults, humiliation, isolation or intimidation.
• Sexual: any sexual contact, comment or behaviour toward a client.
• Financial: theft, pressure to give money or gifts, or misuse of a client's money or property.
• Neglect: failing to provide care that a person depends on, such as food, hygiene, medication reminders or supervision.
• Self-neglect: a person who can no longer meet their own basic needs and is at risk.

3. How we prevent abuse

• Criminal record and vulnerable sector checks, reference checks and interviews before hiring, repeated regularly.
• Training for every caregiver on recognising and reporting abuse, client rights, boundaries and dementia and behaviour support.
• Clear rules against gifts, handling money and other boundary risks (see our client service terms).
• Supervision visits, client and family check-ins, and written visit notes.
• A policy that protects anyone who reports a concern in good faith from retaliation.

4. Children and youth

Caregivers who work with children have additional screening and training. We do not allow a caregiver to be alone with a child unless that is part of the written care plan agreed with the parent or guardian. Caregivers do not take photos of children, contact children on social media, or transport children without written permission.

5. Our duty to report

Under New Brunswick's Family Services Act, everyone in the province must report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. This includes children under 16, and children with a disability under 19. The Act also has protections for adults who are 65 or older, or who have a disability, and who may be abused or neglected.

Bayfern staff must report any suspected abuse or neglect of a client immediately to their supervisor, and we report to Social Development, the police or both as required. We do this even if the client or family asks us not to, when the law requires it. A report does not need proof, only a reasonable suspicion.

6. How to report a concern

• Emergency or immediate danger: call 911.
• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult: call Social Development at 1-833-733-7835.
• A concern about a Bayfern caregiver or our care: call us at (506) 926-0044 and ask for a manager, or email info@bayfernhomecare.ca. You can raise a concern with us and with the authorities at the same time.

7. What happens after a concern is raised

We make sure the client is safe first. Where a staff member is involved, they are removed from that client's care while we investigate. We keep the person who raised the concern informed as far as privacy allows, cooperate fully with authorities, and make changes to prevent it from happening again.

8. Restraint and behaviour support

Our caregivers do not use physical, chemical or environmental restraints. They use non-violent, person-centred approaches and follow behaviour support plans written by the client's clinical team. Physical intervention is used only as a last resort to prevent immediate serious harm, using approved techniques, and is reported to the family and documented the same day.