Perspective

Message from the Registrar and CEO

As we move into the spring season, I want to take a moment to recognize the important work you do every day as social workers and social service workers. Across diverse practice settings and communities, your commitment to ethical, compassionate and competent care continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities across Ontario. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to quality care. In my role as the College’s Registrar…

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Shaping Clinical Readiness: A Social Service Worker’s Insights on Experience Before Private Practice

For Bianca Stefina, RSSW, becoming a registered social service worker was never about following a single prescribed path. Her journey reflects a commitment to learning through experience, adapting to complexity and building clinical judgment through direct work with people in real-world settings. Today, Bianca is the owner of a group practice in Windsor, Ontario, specializing in trauma and complex trauma. Throughout her career, she continues to deepen her clinical expertise through advanced training in trauma-informed…

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Consent in Practice: What Every Registrant Needs to Know

Client consent is a fundamental aspect of ethical social work and social service work practice. At its core, consent is about respecting clients’ autonomy, their right to be informed and their ability to make decisions about their own lives. In most practice contexts, consent is guided by common law principles, such as those found in Ontario’s Health Care and Consent Act, 1996. While exceptions exist, these principles help registrants navigate consent and capacity across a…

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FAQs on Reporting Charges and Convictions

What registrants need to know about charges and self-reports regarding findings of guilt Are registrants required to report findings of guilt to the College? Yes. Registrants are required to report every finding of guilt in relation to a criminal offence, an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) or the Food and Drugs Act (Canada) and any offence that could be relevant to practice. For example, if a registrant is charged with a…

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Council Meeting Highlights

Council Highlights for November 27, 2025 Senior consultant Sheena Prasad from Diversio presented the identified trends from year two of the College’s Equity and Inclusion Data Initiative. Denitha Breau, RN, MSN, MBA, Registrar and CEO, presented her report to Council. The report provided updates under each strategic priority in the College’s Strategic Plan and included information about the following: updates around engagement and outreach opportunities with Professional Practice including the latest Coffee with the College…

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Practice Notes: The Many Sides to Supervision

Practice Notes is an educational tool designed to help Ontario social workers, social service workers, supervisees, students, employers and members of the public gain a better understanding of recurring issues dealt with by the College’s Professional Practice Department and Complaints Committee that may affect everyday practice. The notes offer general guidance only and College registrants with specific practice inquiries should consult the College, since the relevant standards and appropriate course of action will vary depending…

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Discipline Decision Summaries

February 17, 2026Stephanie Brash #840959The Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers found that Stephanie Brash is guilty of professional misconduct. View the decision here:Stephanie Brash #840959 (Discipline Decision Summary and Reasons) October 6, 2025Yujia Zhu #834316The Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers found that Yujia Zhu is guilty of professional misconduct. View the decision here:Yujia Zhu #834316 (Discipline Decision Summary and…

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College Updates and Reminders

Save the date! Registration for AMED 2026 opening soon The College is pleased to announce that it will be holding its Annual Meeting and Education Day (AMED) on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Stay tuned - registration will open in early May! For questions or inquiries about AMED, contact the Communications Department at communications@ocswssw.org. Register for Coffee with the College The College is pleased to invite registrants to join the next dates in our interactive series,…

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Bulletin Board

Change of information notification  If you change employers or move, please advise the College in writing within 30 days. The College is required to have the current business address of its registrants available to the public. Notification of change of address can be done by accessing the Online Portal or by sending the new employer address to the College by email to info@ocswssw.org. Please provide your College registration number when you communicate with us.  If you change your…

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Message from the Registrar and CEO

As we welcome the fall season, the turning leaves remind us to pause and reflect. It is a time that invites renewal and grounds us in what truly matters. I am pleased to share important updates that reflect the College’s ongoing commitment to protecting the public and strengthening trust in the professions of social work and social service work. This fall, we launched a new Public Awareness Campaign designed to help Ontarians better understand the…

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Walking Together: Indigenous Approaches to Healing at St. Joseph’s Care Group

At St. Joseph’s Care Group (SJCG) in Thunder Bay, Ontario, an Indigenous team of social workers and social service workers are reshaping healthcare by weaving traditional knowledge with Western models of care. For Brenda Mason, Ogichidaa Kwe (Elder in Council), N’doo’owe Binesi, Carly Brar, Indigenous Counsellor, N’doo’owe Binesi, Indigenous Health and Paul Francis Jr., Vice President of N’doo’owe Binesi, Indigenous Health, Partnerships and Wellness, this work is deeply personal and a vital part of advancing reconciliation…

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Understanding Competency: A Checklist for the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy

All College registrants are bound by the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice which sets out the minimum standards for professional practice and conduct. The Standards of Practice, Principle II: Competence and Integrity, interpretation 2.1.1 states that registrants  must ensure that they are “aware of the extent and parameters of their competence and their professional scope of practice and limit their practice accordingly.” One of the most common inquiries that the Professional Practice Department…

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