The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is pleased to share that the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is proposing amendments to our governing legislation, the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998 (the SWSSWA), specifically as it relates to section 50, regarding confidentiality.
Under the proposed Bill 188, Supporting Children’s Futures Act, 2024, section 50 of our legislation would be amended to better align itself with Ontario health regulators. These amendments, if approved, build on the government’s shared goals of strong oversight and compliance in order to provide the safest possible environments for the province’s most vulnerable.
Safeguarding Ontario’s youth and children is a collaborative responsibility. In its current state, the SWSSWA has strict limits of confidentiality, which prohibits the College from sharing essential information regarding a College registrant – a social worker or social service worker – with other relevant parties, including children’s aid societies.
These proposed changes would ensure that the College is aligned with the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, which allows for collaboration and sharing of information with other regulatory bodies and agencies with the ultimate goal of protecting the public.
This is an exciting development, and the College values its ongoing work with the Ministry. We are pleased with this important step towards ensuring the strongest possible protections for the public, including the province’s most vulnerable – children and youth. We thank Minister Parsa and his dedicated team for their work and efforts.
We look forward to sharing more information as it becomes available.