Perspective

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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Have you ever considered providing field education opportunities to social work or social service work students? Field education is a mandatory practicum requirement for social work and social service work students. As an experiential learning tool, field education helps students develop their professional competencies by providing them with an opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to the practice setting. Why bring students on board? Fresh perspectivesStudents arrive equipped with the latest concepts and innovative best…

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Sanjay Govindaraj, RSW, Council Chair, provided his report to Council. Denitha Breau, RN, MSN, MBA, Registrar and CEO, presented her report to Council. The report provided updates under each priority in the College’s Strategic Plan and included information about the following: ongoing outreach and Professional Practice engagement; registration and renewals as it relates to results of the successful implementation of the College’s new database; updates around the College’s 25th anniversary engagements; continued discussions regarding governance and…

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September 9, 2025 Guests from the Manitoba College of Social Workers (MCSW), Barb Temmerman, MSW, RSW, Executive Director/Registrar and Beatrice Campbell, RSW, Board member representative, presented to Council on the work conducted in partnership with the Indigenous Strategy Alliance. Through this work, strategic priorities of the MCSW have been reviewed and analyzed, and highlight their commitment to reconciliation, EDI, and Indigenous perspectives. This review outlines specific actions registrants can take to support reconciliation efforts, aligning…

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Practice Notes is an educational tool designed to help Ontario social workers, social service workers, 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[1] with specific practice inquiries should consult the College, since the relevant standards and appropriate course of action will vary depending on the…

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The College publishes summaries of decisions of the Discipline Committee and/or provides links to full-text, neutralized versions of its decisions. Information that is subject to a publication ban or that could reveal the identity of witnesses or clients, including the name of the facility, has been removed as necessary, or has been anonymized. As of January 2019, decisions are also available via the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII).  By publishing decisions, the College endeavours to:  Illustrate…

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Save the date! Registration for the 2025 Educational Forum opening soon The College is pleased to announce that it will be holding its virtual Educational Forum on the morning of Wednesday, November 26, 2025.  In addition to a College update from Denitha Breau, Registrar and CEO, the Educational Forum will include a panel discussion entitled The Greatest Risk Requires the Greatest Competence – Private Practice and Psychotherapy. The College’s Director of Professional Practice, Christina Van Sickle, MSW,…

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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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