External Agencies and Collaboration Agreements 

The Grand Erie District School Board regularly works with external agencies to provide students with services from regulated health professionals, regulated social service professionals, and paraprofessionals to help meet educational goals. 

A collaboration agreement must be submitted by any external agency to Grand Erie before services can be provided to students in schools. Please send all collaboration agreement applications to: collaborationagreements@granderie.ca.

What is a collaboration agreement?

A collaboration agreement is a short term, written partnership between Grand Erie and an external agency, meant to fill a temporary service gap, not to replace or duplicate services already provided by Grand Erie staff.  

The agreement must protect the rights of students and staff, avoid interrupting instructional time whenever possible, clearly outline roles, responsibilities, consent and communication processes, and include plans for coordination and dispute resolution. It must also define timelines, service quality expectations, and professional standards.  

Every agreement is reviewed annually, and final approval is made by Grand Erie.   


Additional Requirements


Criminal Background Checks

All external agency staff must have a valid Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening before providing any services in Grand Erie schools. Staff must show proof of these checks during their first visit. Some provincial organizations with their own approved screening processes, such as Public Health, VON, Ontario Health at Home, Children’s Aid Societies, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, may show their official photo ID instead of submitting copies of their checks. 

Grand Erie may refuse entry or end an agreement if a provider does not have up to date background checks. All costs for obtaining these checks are the responsibility of the external agency. 

Insurance Requirements

Every year, external agencies must provide Grand Erie with a certificate of insurance. This must include general and professional liability coverage of $5 million per occurrence, name the Grand Erie District School Board as an additional insured, and include a 30-day cancellation notice. Agencies must also confirm that their staff are covered while working on Grand Erie property.

Qualifications and Supervision
External agency staff must meet professional standards when providing services in Grand Erie schools. Anyone who is a member of a regulated professional college must have current qualifications, an active membership, and must confirm that they provide services according to their college’s standards of practice. 

Paraprofessionals may also support students, but they must work under the clinical supervision of a qualified professional. Agencies must provide details about the paraprofessional’s role, their supervisor’s name and qualifications, and a supervision plan that outlines how and when supervision will occur. 

 

Resources

  • Protocol for Collaboration Agreements with External Agencies for the Provision of Services in Schools 


For more information

The criteria for entering into a collaboration agreement can be found in the Protocol for Collaboration Agreements with External Agencies for the Provision of Services in School linked here: 

Protocol for Collaboration Agreements with External Agencies for the Provision of Services in Schools.