Q&A: What Happens after the College Receives a Complaint?

[ocswssw_btn_magenta url=”http://www.ocswssw.org/employers/communique/signup/” target=”self” size=”regular”]SIGN UP FOR THE EMPLOYER COMMUNIQUÉ![/ocswssw_btn_magenta]

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) regulates the practice of social work and social service work under the provincial Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998. As part of its ongoing mandate to serve and protect the public interest, the College is required to have a formal complaints process, which gives anyone the ability to have their complaint about a College member’s alleged conduct or actions submitted to the College’s Complaints Committee.

Generally, once a written complaint is received,

  1. The individual who made the complaint (the complainant)
    can expect to receive a letter from the College acknowledging receipt of the complaint and advising of the process that
    will follow.
  2. The member complained against is notified in writing that the College has received a complaint. A copy of the complaint or a written summary of it is provided to the member and the member is given at least 35 days to provide the College with a written response to the complaint.
  3. The complainant is then provided with a copy of the member’s response or a written summary of it.
  4. If the College requires further information, it will attempt to obtain it.

Employers can access the College’s Online Register should they seek information regarding a member’s registration status and discipline history, if any.

For more information on the College’s complaints process, visit our website or contact communications@ocswssw.org.