The College is excited to share that the changes to its governing legislation, the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998 (the SWSSWA) are now in effect as of July 1, 2024. These updates relate to section 50 of the SWSSWA regarding confidentiality and build on the College’s mandate of strong oversight to provide the best possible and safe environments for Ontario’s most vulnerable populations.
With these changes, if a registrant is under investigation for serious professional misconduct, such as allegations of sexual abuse, the College has enhanced abilities to share this vital information with relevant parties, including children’s aid societies, employers and/or law enforcement agencies.
The College can also publicly confirm whether we are investigating a registrant if there is a compelling public safety reason to make such a confirmation – for example, if there is a significant risk of harm to the public.
It’s important to note that the College will NOT openly acknowledge every ongoing investigation. Disclosure of an ongoing investigation will occur only when it is deemed necessary to protect public safety.
This legislative change is an exciting development and an important step towards ensuring the best possible protections for Ontarians. For questions or inquiries about the amendments, contact the College’s Communications Department at communications@ocswssw.org.