The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is responsible for regulating the practice of social workers and social service workers under provincial legislation called the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998(the Act).
 
The College was established to regulate the two professions, protect the public interest and promote excellence in social work/social service work practice.
 
Only members of the OCSWSSW may call themselves a social worker/registered social worker or a social service worker/registered social service worker. The College maintains a public register of its members. Any member of the public may ask (in writing) for verification that a social worker or social service worker is a member of the OCSWSSW. Click here to find out how to check the College register.
 
All OCSWSSW members are subject to a code of ethics and standards of practice.
 
The main object of the College is to protect the public interest. The College investigates any complaint that is received objectively and thoroughly. A formal complaints process is followed to ensure fairness to both the person lodging the complaint and the member complained against.

For more information on the College and its mandate, you can download a copy of our Information for the Public brochure.