News

Council Meeting Highlights for December 4, 2019

The Council is the 21-member governing body and board of directors that manages and administers College affairs. The policies developed by Council provide direction to the College and to staff. December 4, 2019 Lise Betteridge, RSW, Registrar, and Laura Sheehan, Deputy Registrar, presented their report to Council. The report provided updates on: registration and membership; digital communications, including website and Online Register metrics; outreach initiatives, including employer outreach campaign and public awareness campaigns; the Employer Communiqué and Perspective publications;…

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What Do Children’s Aid Societies Need to Know about New CYFSA Privacy Obligations?

Three situations in which CASs may be and/or are required to disclose information to the College When may and when must a Children’s Aid Society provide information, including personal information, to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers without the consent of a child and/or their parents? On January 1, 2020, new privacy obligations for Children’s Aid Societies (“CASs”) become law. These obligations are set out in Part X of the Child,…

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Online Register Submissions Have Doubled. What Employers Need to Know.

On March 1, 2019, the College launched its first-ever public awareness campaign, “What’s in a name?” The campaign promotes awareness of the College and the Online Register of social workers and social service workers in Ontario. It also reinforces the College’s ongoing mandate to protect the public interest through the campaign’s full tagline, “What’s in a name? Protection for you.” (more…)

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Open Discussion a Highlight of Kingston Employer Roundtable

The College held an Employer Roundtable in Kingston on October 10, 2019, which was well-attended by employers from the Kingston, Belleville and Hastings areas. As part of the College’s employer outreach initiative, the biannual Employer Roundtable is an opportunity for employers to learn more about the College and its public protection mandate, to share their ideas about how the College can better support employers, and to discuss some of the challenges faced by employers of…

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Members Must Declare CCP by Year-End

Organizations that hire College members employ professionals who are accountable for their practice and are dedicated to ongoing professional development. The College’s Continuing Competence Program (CCP) ensures that members remain current in their practice. The CCP requires members to engage in self-assessment and goal-setting on an annual basis to ensure that they continue to learn and develop as professionals throughout their careers. (more…)

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Members: Renew Your College Membership for 2020

As a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, you must pay your annual membership fee by December 31. Keeping your membership current is important. It demonstrates your commitment to professional, ethical, qualified and accountable practice. It says something important about the professions of social work and social service work as a whole, and also about you as an individual practitioner. (more…)

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MESSAGE FROM THE REGISTRAR & CEO: FACING THE MONUMENTAL: REGULATORS AND RECONCILIATION

By Lise Betteridge, MSW, RSW On a hot summer day this past June, I wandered the cool marble floors and concrete galleries of Montreal’s Contemporary Arts Museum, feeling overwhelmed by a powerful exhibition of the works of Anishinaabe artist Rebecca Belmore, titled Facing the Monumental. The diverse collection, on loan from the Art Gallery of Ontario, presented an overview of Belmore’s artistic vision to date, including sculptures, installations, photography and video. One video, called Vigil (Paul Wong, 2010), was literally…

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Resilience and Well-Being

Social work and social service work can be very rewarding professions for those who have empathy, want to help others and make a positive contribution to society. Yet, at the same time, both professions can be extremely demanding, with many social workers and social service workers experiencing burnout and compassion fatigue. (more…)

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