Policy changes made after child burned in bath while in B.C. ministry care

After CTV News reported on a teen with special needs who was left with horrific burns from a bath in ministry care, new safeguards have been put in place.

The B.C. government said it’s put safeguards in place after a teen with special needs was left with horrific burns from a bath while in ministry care.

But it turns out what happened to Kherrigan Cattermole has happened before.

Jennifer Charlesworth, the province’s representative for children and youths, said that while incidents like this are rare, there have been “a few situations in which children have been burned while in care.”

“Typically, what we’ve got is situations in which the children are non-verbal and have significant disabilities—and the staff either have not checked the water temperature or have not been attentive to the cues the young person is providing,” Charlesworth said.

• Related: B.C. teen with special needs seriously burned in bath while in ministry care

She also described what happened to Kherrigan as “just a horrific situation that the young person experienced and that the family is experiencing.”

Kherrigan, who is 16, remains at Sunny Hill Health Centre, where her mom said she’s becoming a little more mobile each day.

Tina McGee-Drolet said her daughter needed skin grafts after suffering second- and third-degree burns from the bottom of her feet to mid-thigh.

Last week, McGee-Drolet said she wanted bath temperatures to be regulated like they are in seniors’ facilities.

CTV News took these concerns to Minister of Children and Family Development Jodie Wickens, who said she was directing her staff to take action.

In a statement, her ministry said a new policy has now been developed and implemented.

“Under the new policy foster caregivers and resource staff caregivers are required to ensure all bath water is a safe, age, and developmentally appropriate temperature,” the statement reads.

“Water temperature must be checked before bathing, either manually or with a thermometer. Staff who work with caregivers are responsible for overseeing that these new requirements are being followed.”

Under the policy, bath water for children should be between 37 and 38 C, and never exceed 42 degrees.

CTV News asked if the minister was aware of other instances of children being burned in baths while in care, and if so, why changes didn’t happen sooner.

The ministry said it could not comment to protect the confidentiality of children and youth.

McGee-Drolet said she is pleased the changes have been made.

Meanwhile, the advocate said an ongoing review of care homes for children has found staff training can vary significantly, ranging from just six hours to 200, depending on the operator.

“We’re seeing some agencies do an exceptional job of training, and some do not,” Charlesworth said.

She explained that care home workers are required to have a certain level of expertise—but that the province is also grappling with “a staffing crisis.”

“So there are people that are being recruited in that do not have basic credentials,” she said. “But you are required to have staff.”

McGee-Drolet said her daughter was born with a chromosome deletion and has severe developmental delays. She said the decision to put Kherrigan into care was a difficult one, made only because she needs round-the-clock help.

But McGee-Drolet said she has taken her daughter out of ministry care, and that when she finally leaves Sunny Hill, she will be returning home to family.