News

View the College’s 2022 Annual Report Online

The 2022 Annual Report of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is now available on the College website. The theme of the 2022 Annual Report is Making the Connection: Professionalism, Accountability, and Public Protection. The 2022 Annual Report highlights the College’s activities over the past year and includes: a joint message from the Council Chair and the Registrar & CEO; an article about the College’s 2022 activities, “Making the Connection”; statistics…

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REMINDER: Register Now for the 2023 Annual Meeting and Education Day!

As you will have seen in a previous eBulletin, general registration for the College’s Annual Meeting and Education Day (AMED) is now open. This year’s AMED will be hosted entirely online on a virtual conference platform on Tuesday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. What to expect at AMED 2023 At AMED, you will have the opportunity to attend, as part of this virtual event: the College’s Annual Meeting; the keynote address presented by Zelda la…

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College Update on 2024 Registration and Renewal Fees

At its May meeting, College Council made the carefully considered decision to approve the recommendation of the Finance Committee to increase registration and renewal fees for 2024. This is the first time the College has increased fees in four years. Council’s decision, though necessary, was not made lightly. We understand that the impact of inflation is challenging for many of our registrants. Registration and renewal fees will be increased by $40. The new fees are: Renewal…

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Register Now for the 2023 Annual Meeting and Education Day!

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) invites you to attend its Annual Meeting and Education Day (AMED) on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. This year’s theme is Making the Connection: Professionalism, Accountability and Public Protection. The College is pleased to have Zelda la Grange as keynote speaker. Her presentation will focus on the post-Apartheid South African journey towards truth, reconciliation and inclusion informed…

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Message from the Registrar and CEO: Professional Boundaries Campaign

As another winter turns to spring, I think about the cycles of our work at the College – as well as the constant of change. Outside, the weather warms and vegetation surfaces once again, yet the sun always rises. This will be my last message in Perspective. As many of you know, I have announced my retirement effective the end of July 2023. It has been a privilege to serve as the College’s Registrar and…

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“We Are Still Here” – A Woman’s Journey to Healing and Rediscovery

Content/trigger warning: The following article includes information about residential schools, violence against children, intergenerational trauma, systemic and structural racism and oppression and the ongoing impact of colonialism. Readers are encouraged to seek support if needed. Last year, Rita May Fenton stumbled upon her dream journal from 2012. She had a dream about living in a big house with many people coming to visit, called “The Healing Place.” “I’ve always wanted to have a teepee in…

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Practice Notes: Shattered Trust – The Sexual Abuse of Clients

Content/trigger warning: The following article includes information about sexual misconduct. Readers are encouraged to seek support if needed. Download the PDF Practice Notes is an educational tool designed to help Ontario social workers, social service workers, employers and members of the public gain a better understanding of recurring issues dealt with by the College’s Professional Practice Department and Complaints Committee that may affect everyday practice. The notes offer general guidance only and College registrants[1] with…

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What Are Professional Boundaries?

The term “professional boundaries” is used to define the set of roles and expectations required of a College registrant in relation to their client. The College registrant has a professional obligation to maintain professional boundaries and ensure that the needs of the client are paramount at all times. In short, professional boundaries require a registrant to only have a professional relationship with their client.  When a registrant engages in conduct with a client that falls…

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College Updates and Reminders

Save the Date for AMED 2023! The College’s Annual Meeting and Education Day (AMED) will take place on Tuesday, June 13th. This year’s theme is Making the Connection: Professionalism, Accountability and Public Protection. The keynote speaker, Zelda La Grange, will present on her two decades of working closely with Nelson Mandela in post-Apartheid South Africa, reflecting on the connection to Canada’s journey towards reconciliation and inclusion. There will also be four educational sessions that will…

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Council Meeting Highlights for March 1, 2023

John Fleming, Council Chair, provided his report to Council. Council received an update from Stacey Hardy-Chandler, CEO of the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and Siu Ming Kwok, President of the Canadian Council of Social Work Regulators, regarding entry-to-practice exams. Lise Betteridge, RSW, Registrar and CEO, and Denitha Breau, Deputy Registrar, presented their report to Council. The report provided updates under each strategic priority in the College’s Strategic Plan and included information about the…

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