Employers of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Before you hire, make sure the candidate’s name is not missing from our Register!
It’s good practice to check!
The College ensures all our registrants:
- Meet specific registration and educational requirements.
- Adhere to the College’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
- Engage in continued mandatory professional learning.
As an employer, you also have a certain level of protection in that the College enforces a rigorous complaints and discipline process should a registrant fail to conduct themselves in a professional or ethical manner.
Don’t miss out – the benefits are definitely worth it!
Why Hire a Social Worker or Social Service Worker
The social work and social service work professions are regulated by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) under the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998.
In Ontario, only registrants of the College can use the protected titles:
- Social worker
- Social service worker
- Registered social worker
- Registered social service worker
Registration is also required if an individual represents them self or holds them self out as a social worker or social service worker.
Value of Registration
College registration demonstrates that the registrant:
- Has met specific registration requirements.
- Adheres to a code of ethics and standards of practice.
- Engages in ongoing learning through the College’s Continuing Competence Program (CCP).
It also provides confidence to employers and to the public that registrants are professional, ethical, qualified and accountable.
Public Protection
Professional self-regulation protects the public from unqualified, incompetent and unfit practitioners. As part of its public protection mandate, the College considers all information it receives concerning the alleged conduct of its registrants and assesses it through its complaints & discipline processes.
Find a Social Worker or Social Service Worker
As mandated by the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, the OCSWSSW maintains a Register which lists all registered social workers and social service workers in Ontario and includes information regarding a registrant’s registration status and discipline history (if any) and their employer contact information.
To find a registered social worker or registered social service worker, consult the College’s Register.