Board Procedures, Complaints, Discipline, and Mandatory Reporting
Complaints and discipline
Anyone may file a complaint with the Board. The Board screens it, may investigate, and may resolve it by dismissal, letter, stipulated order, or formal contested-case hearing under the Oregon Administrative Procedures Act. The Board may impose sanctions including reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, civil penalty, and conditions on practice. Licensees must cooperate with investigations and must not retaliate against complainants.
Mandatory reporting
Separate from Board complaints, Oregon law requires reporting suspected child abuse under ORS 419B.010 and abuse of elderly persons or persons with disabilities under ORS 124.050. The standard is reasonable cause to believe, not proof. Reports go to the Department of Human Services or law enforcement, not to the Board as a substitute. A licensee who makes a good-faith report is protected from civil liability; failure to report can lead to criminal and disciplinary consequences.
Worked example
A client says her neighbor’s child has unexplained burns and is afraid to go home. The counselor does not investigate or confront the neighbor. The counselor makes a report to DHS or law enforcement based on reasonable cause, documents the facts and the report, and tells the client what will happen within the limits of confidentiality. The counselor does not call the Board instead of the child-protection hotline.
Traps
Do not investigate abuse yourself. Do not wait for proof. Do not report only to a supervisor or agency. Do not confuse the Board complaint process with mandatory reporting. Do not assume a client’s request for secrecy overrides the legal duty.