In this update:
- Ensure you’re up to date – review the Administration of Naloxone appendix in the Practice Guidelines for Medication Practices
- Upcoming Coffee with the College dates – register now!
- Stay tuned for an invitation to share your feedback on draft revisions to the Practice Guidelines for Consent and Confidentiality with Children and Youth
Ensure you’re up to date with Naloxone administration guidelines
In December 2023, the College announced revisions to the Appendix on the Administration of Naloxone in the Practice Guidelines for Medication Practices.
The revisions clarify that registrants are allowed to administer Naloxone without a formal delegation in place, as long as they have appropriate training. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Registrants should ensure that they review the updated guidelines.
- Registrants will not face any repercussions from the College for administering Naloxone.
- The Ontario government has information on recognizing and temporarily reversing an opioid overdose
- Training in administering Naloxone and opioid overdose response is available through local Public Health Units.
The effectiveness of Naloxone can be enhanced when used alongside other lifesaving measures such as CPR. Registrants are encouraged to consider CPR training, especially when working in environments such as shelters and addiction services. First aid training now includes Naloxone as part of the curriculum.
Social service work registrants who are members of the Ontario Social Service Worker Association can access discounts on first aid courses and other resources on harm reduction and addiction care through the association.
For all inquiries related to the Practice Guidelines for Medication Practices and the administration of Naloxone, email the College’s Professional Practice Department at practice@ocswssw.org.
Register for upcoming Coffee with the College sessions
The College is pleased to invite registrants to join the next dates in our interactive series, Coffee with the College. Register via the links below!
Upcoming session dates:
- Wednesday, April 23 from noon to 1 p.m.
- Note: Denitha Breau, RN, MSN, MBA, the College’s Registrar and CEO, and Uppala Chandrasekera, MSW, RSW, the College’s Deputy Registrar & Chief Practice Officer, will be present at this session.
- Wednesday, May 14 from noon to 1 p.m.
Hosted by the Professional Practice Team, this engaging lunch and learn discussion explores some of the most common ethical and practice dilemmas that registrants encounter. Registrants will also be able to ask questions and engage in live consultations with the Professional Practice staff.
Please note:
- Registration for each session is limited. Please do not register for more sessions than you intend to attend.
- Coffee with the College sessions are meant to offer live consultations and will not be recorded. If you are unable to attend one of the dates above, visit the College’s website to see upcoming dates.
For questions or inquiries regarding Coffee with the College, contact the Professional Practice Department at practice@ocswssw.org.
Stay tuned: Updates to the College’s Practice Guidelines for Consent and Confidentiality with Children and Youth
After receiving feedback from registrants stating that the Practice Guidelines for Consent and Confidentiality with Children and Youth are outdated and do not provide sufficient guidance, the College is now working with the Standards of Practice Committee to undertake updates to the Practice Guidelines to reflect current practice.
Once the draft revisions are completed, the College will be reaching out to registrants to ask them to share their insights, which will further help refine the revisions. Stay tuned for more information coming later this spring.