The Office of the Chief Coroner has informed the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) of the outcome of a review by the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC) and sought the College’s support in actioning one of its recommendations. This eBulletin is intended to address the DVDRC’s recommendation by:
- Sharing information about the DVDRC review with registrants.
- Reminding registrants of their professional obligations to ensure risk assessment tools are being used for all situations involving intimate partner violence (IPV).
THE DVDRC REVIEW
The DVDRC has conducted a review of 23 IPV related deaths, which involved individuals who experienced mental health and substance use challenges. The recommendations from the review appear in the 2022–2023 DVDRC Annual Report.
The DVDRC describes its primary goals as follows:
The purpose of the DVDRC is to assist the Office of the Chief Coroner in the investigation and review of deaths of persons that occur as a result of intimate partner violence, and to make recommendations to help prevent further deaths.
By conducting a thorough and detailed examination and analysis of facts within individual and grouped cases, the DVDRC strives to develop a comprehensive understanding of why intimate partner homicides occur and how they might be prevented. Information considered within this examination includes the history and circumstances of the abusers/perpetrators, the victims, and their respective families. Community and systemic responses are examined to determine primary risk factors and to identify possible points of intervention that could assist with the prevention of similar deaths in the future.
Recommendation 7 of the DVDRC Review is directed to the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, Ministry of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.It states that risk assessment tools should be utilized for all IPV situations within their respective sectors and police services.
Furthermore, the review indicates:
- There are significant inconsistencies in how risk assessments for IPV are conducted across sectors.
- There is a lack of documentation on whether risk assessments were utilized when victims interacted with social services or police.
REGISTRANTS’ PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS
To support the DVDRC’s recommendation, the College is providing the 2022–2023 DVDRC Annual Report to all registrants. Registrants are also reminded of their obligation in the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice to be competent in the services they provide.
Principle II: Competence and Integrity, states that:
2.1 College registrants shall commit to ongoing professional development and to maintaining competence in their practice.
2.1.1 College registrants shall be responsible for being aware of the extent and parameters of their competence and their professional scope of practice and limit their practice accordingly.
2.1.3 When a client’s needs fall outside the College registrant’s usual area of practice, the College registrant shall inform the client of the option to be referred to another professional. However, if the client wishes to continue the professional relationship with the College registrant and have the College registrant provide the service, the College registrant may do so provided that:
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- the College registrant ensures they are competent to provide services by seeking additional supervision, consultation and/or education and
- the services are not beyond the College registrant’s professional scope of practice as a social worker or social service worker.
Recommendations for particular services, referrals to other professionals or a continuation of the professional relationship shall be guided by the client’s interests as well as the College registrant’s judgment and knowledge.
Registrants working with clients who are experiencing IPV should:
- Understand the risk of intimate partner homicide.
- Recognize the intersections of mental health and substance use with intimate partner homicide.
- Ensure they have the competence to complete intimate partner homicide risk assessments and develop client safety plans.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
More information on IPV can be found in the following resources:
- For information on risk assessments: Domestic Violence Risk Assessment: Informing Safety Planning & Risk Management Domestic Homicide Brief 2
- For online training and resources, visit the Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative website.
- Information and Privacy Commissioner Resource: Sharing Information in Situations involving IPV – Guidance for Professionals
- Educational Forum video: Supporting Clients with Care and Competence through IPV
- Practice Notes: “But How Do I Know If I’m Competent” – Issues to Consider
Registrants who have questions or inquiries about providing services to clients experiencing IPV or their professional obligations can contact the Professional Practice Department practice@ocswssw.org.