Social Service Workers Now Added as Authorized Medical Practitioners for Tax Purposes
Social service workers are now recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as authorized medical practitioners for the purpose of the medical expense tax credit. This means that your clients may be eligible to submit a portion of the costs of their sessions with you on their taxes.
In the summer of 2025, the Ontario Social Service Worker Association (OSSWA) brought this matter to the College’s attention noting that while social workers and many other regulated professions were considered medical practitioners for the purpose of claiming a medical expense tax credit, social service workers were not included in the authorized list. The College worked with OSSWA to draft a submission to the CRA asking that social service workers be added as a medical practitioner category.
As part of the College’s public protection mandate, this change will reduce barriers and increase access to mental health care for Ontarians. We encourage you to share this information with your clients.
For more information, please visit the CRA website.
Essential Updates to the Practice Guidelines for Consent and Confidentiality with Children and Youth
The Practice Guidelines for Consent and Confidentiality with Children and Youth have been updated to reflect current practice and provide specific guidance to registrants. Registrants who work with children and youth must review the updated guidelines to ensure that they are following the most up-to-date guidance. The updated Practice Guidelines can be accessed on the College’s website.
Updates incorporate the following practice considerations:
- Guidance on assessing capacity in children and youth;
- Approaches on how to obtain informed consent from children and youth;
- Navigating situations where parents or substitute decision makers disagree; and
- Assessing risk when determining to release client information without consent.
The College engaged a consultant who is a legal expert specializing in consent and privacy laws related to children and youth to draft revisions to the Practice Guidelines. Registrants were then asked to provide feedback on the draft revisions, and this feedback was incorporated into the final version.
2025 Educational Forum Recording Now Available
The 2025 Educational Forum is now available to watch by visiting the College website or YouTube channel.
The College’s Director of Professional Practice, Christina Van Sickle, MSW, RSW, facilitated a panel discussion entitled The Greatest Risk Requires the Greatest Competence – Private Practice and Psychotherapy. The expert panel explored what competencies are needed to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy, and why this competence is required before engaging in a counselling or mental health support private practice. The panel session also provided insights to registrants on the different skills and resources required before beginning a private practice, including how to stay current in their practice.
The panelists represented a variety of perspectives and practice areas and included:
- Bianca Stefina, CYCP, BA, RSSW, CCTS-A, CMEMIP-1
- Cate Creede-Desmarais, PhD, CPCC, ACC
- Natalie Blake, MSW, RSW
- Nikki Healey, MSW, RSW
College registrants can use viewing this recording towards the completion of their 2026 Continuing Competence Program (CCP).
For questions about the Educational Forum, contact the College’s Communications Department at communications@ocswssw.org.