Duty of Care

The Duty of Care Program works with ministries to protect individuals through developing, implementing, and monitoring compliance with administrative standards.

Exercising a duty of care involves taking steps to avoid causing foreseeable harm to another person or his/her property.

The Duty of Care Program in the Congregational, Educational, and Community Ministries Unit (CECM) works with the boards, directors, managers, staff, and volunteers of nearly 400 ministries across the country:

• camps
• community ministries
• education centres
• seniors’ facilities
• schools
• housing initiatives
• financial trusts
• chaplaincies

The program involves

• developing administrative standards
• monitoring the implementation of administrative standards
• measuring compliance, through an accreditation program, of ministries that use the name of The United Church of Canada

Standards have been or are being developed for each type of ministry. The goal of these standards is to ensure the highest level of care in delivering services and proclaiming the gospel in deed and word in United Church ministries.

The following brochures highlight the objectives of a duty of care program and some practical steps to take in reviewing the work of your ministries and developing your own program:

• Introducing The United Church of Canada Duty of Care [PDF: 2 pp/201 KB]
• Duty of Care with Children's Ministries [PDF: 2 pp/260 KB]

For more information contact

Bev Oag
Program Coordinator, Duty of Care
Congregational, Educational, and Community Ministries
Tel: 416-231-7680, ext. 4094
Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781, ext. 4094
E-mail: Duty of Care