Duty to Report
211 Nova Scotia’s Community Resource Navigators have a duty to report suspected abuse or neglect.
Persons above the age of 19
Regardless of how you learned of a suspected case of adult neglect and/or abuse, under the law, you must report it to the Department of Health and Wellness. No action will be taken against you when you call, unless you provide information with malicious intent or without reason and probable cause. The Adult Protection Act requires that you report information about an adult in need of protection.
Persons under the age of 19
Children and Family Services Act – Duty to Report PDF
Everyone has the duty to immediately report to a Child Welfare Agency that a child under the age of 19 is or may be in need of protective services, even if it is a suspicion only, or if the information is confidential. Under the Children and Family Services Act, designated social workers in Child Welfare Agencies are required to assess reports of alleged child abuse and/or neglect.
There are different kinds of child abuse:
Physical abuse
The intentional use of force on any part of a child’s body that results in injury
Emotional abuse
Anything that causes serious mental or emotional harm to a child, which the parent does not attempt to prevent or address including:
(a) Rejection
(b) Isolation, including depriving the child from normal social interaction
(c) Deprivation of affection or cognitive stimulation
(d) Inappropriate criticism, humiliation, or expectations of or threats or accusations toward the child
(e) Any other similar acts
Sexual abuse
The improper exposure of a child to sexual contact, activity or behaviour
Neglect
Any lack of care that may cause significant harm to a child’s development or endangers the child in any way including:
(a) Adequate food, clothing or shelter
(b) Adequate supervision
(c) Affection or cognitive stimulation; or
(d) Any other similar failure to provide
