November 20, 2025
At Karis Disability Services, our dedication to providing high quality services while ensuring the safety of the people who use our services remains a top priority. As a part of our ongoing efforts to clarify and ensure consistent roles and responsibilities, and ensure transparency and adherence to legislative requirements, we have introduced key updates to various policies. Here are some of the key updates:
Accessing Services Procedures (ON B.5.4 and SK B.10.4)
As of July 1, 2025, and in alignment with previous work of our Onward Strategic Plan and our F2026 Operating Plan, Karis began initiating Service Agreements for new people into ministry-funded services. We have updated this policy to outline the expectation of a Service Agreement to be completed prior to a person accessing services, when they are new to Karis Group Living/Group Home or Supported Independent Living services. Community Development Managers currently help support the process of ensuring a Service Agreement is completed for people new to these services.
Death of a Person Supported (ON B.5.7 and SK B.11.2)
We updated this policy to further clarify the role family members/the person’s support network and executor (if applicable) play as it relates to funeral and financial arrangements when a person dies. We also updated the policy to ensure it reflects the legal requirements needed to manage trust accounts upon a person’s death.
Service Transitions (ON B.5.9 Only)
Previously this policy was titled “Termination/Internal Transfer,” however we recognized different considerations need to be taken when there is a termination of service versus an internal transfer of service. Therefore, we re-named the policy “Service Transitions” and added three subsections to differentiate between Internal Transfers; Withdrawal or Termination of Services; and the Documentation for Service Transitions. In addition to this, in the ON “Service Transitions” and SK “Transition out of Service/Transfer to Another Service” (ON B.5.9 and SK B.11.1) we updated the policy to reflect that a withdrawal or termination of service can occur if Service Agreement terms are not met. The policy specifies the considerations required should services be withdrawn or terminated by Karis.
Bathing, Showering or Swimming (ON B.8.3 and SK B.15.3)
In response to ON MCCSS compliance inspections this policy was updated, and adopted in SK to ensure a best practice framework. We added that the supervision level in bathing protocols must be based on a risk assessment and documented. We also clarified that people in Supported Group Living who have epilepsy, must use a free-draining tub when continuous supervision is not possible due to staffing constraints or privacy needs. If a person desires greater independence, the policy requires consultation with an appropriate professional around the risks, and this must be documented. This helps us to ensure the appropriate safeguards are in place for a person, and that their personal risk is mitigated, while also respecting their choices.
Support in Managing Finances (ON B.8.8 and SK B.15.8)
In alignment with the introduction of the Service Agreement in both provinces, and after formal communication around our Approach to Funding and Services in Ontario, we added clarification in this policy to refer to the Service Agreement or Personal Plan to review the costs covered by Karis for a person. In addition, for our Ontario services, where Karis helps to manage some or all of the passport funding for the person, we added the requirement for the spending tracker/ Passport spending to be reviewed by a family member or designate on an annual basis. This is already a requirement for people Karis serves as it relates to personal needs money that we help to manage, and ensures transparency and accountability to ensure we are spending Passport funding in alignment with the person’s passport goals and budget plan.
Tender Policy (ON B.11.4 and SK B.8.6)
We updated the tender thresholds to algin with the “Purchasing Policy.” We also specified for SK that while the Purchasing Act 2004 does not mandate tendering requirements in SK, we have adopted these requirements for our SK services as a best practice framework.
We believe these updates will strengthen clarity around roles and responsibilities at the various stages of service delivery, ensure the proper safeguards are in place as we support people, and ensure transparency and alignment with legislative requirements as we manage the resources entrusted to us.
Please log into PolicyManager to review and complete the updated policies document in your iAttest folder. Ensure you review all updates and attest to them as assigned by the deadline of February 28, 2026.
Thank you,
Michelle Norton, Director of Operations