Principles of Professionalism

The College’s 2008 Annual Meeting and Education Day took place on Wednesday, June 18, 2008. Once again, the event was a huge success with more than 500 delegates attending.

We would like to thank the presenters who made the event such a success.

For those unable to attend in person, the presentations from the speakers are available to download below. Simply click on the name of the presenter to download the slides.

We look forward to welcoming you again next year!

Keynote Address

The Chameleon Effect: Defined by Professionalism
Lorie Shekter-Wolfson, RSW

Join Lorie to explore the issues of professionalism and identity. As Dean of a diverse Community Services and Health Sciences faculty, Lorie has developed a model linking professionalism to interprofessional care. Discover how social workers and social service workers are ideally suited to play a key role in the evolution.

The Impact on Privacy of New Technologies in Health Care
Dr. Ann Cavoukian

Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian will speak on how new technologies can impact privacy in the area of health care, with a focus on the technology-related Health Orders she has issued since the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) came into effect.

Planning, Development and Implementation: Adhering to Social Work Ethics
Bruce Rivers, RSW

With the recent transformation of child welfare services in Ontario as a reference point, we will explore the challenge of tackling a public policy agenda while balancing social work ethics and values. Strategies for ensuring broad representation, stakeholder engagement, consensus building and innovation will be examined along with emerging best practices from other jurisdictions. Practical lessons learned and an exchange of experiences and ideas will be of interest to those working with any systems change at a broad policy, local community or agency level.

Consent and Capacity Board Hearings: Removing the Mystery
Elda Lansfield, RSW, Pierre-Paul Filion, RSW and Brian Wilson, RSW

Social workers from The Ottawa Hospital and members of the Consent and Capacity Board of Ontario have jointly produced a video of a mock capacity hearing. This video is a teaching tool for capacity evaluators (social workers) who must participate in these hearings. The authors will present the video and discuss its implications.

Working With Victims of Crime
Bina Osthoff, RSSW

The Ministry of Attorney General’s Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) provides information, support and assistance to victims and witnesses of crime in order to improve their understanding of, and participation in, the criminal court process. VWAP is part of the Ministry’s Victim Services Secretariat. In this workshop, learn more about the work of the VWAP and some of the services of the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat.

Ethical Challenges with Community Practice in Developing Countries
Kevin Kennedy, RSSW and SSW Students

For the past five years, a group of Seneca College SSW students have travelled to Kingston, Jamaica to work in a challenged area of the country. Each year, the group wrestles with ethical dilemmas associated with this type of experience. This presentation will look at the experience of the group, the impact of the project and the inherent challenges for students and professionals in this form of practice.

Mindfulness-Based Trauma Counselling: Opening to Our Wisdom and Compassion
Billee Laskin, RSW and Susan Harris, RSW

This presentation will illustrate an innovative approach to group counselling services for women who have experienced violence and trauma. Mindfulness-Based Trauma Counselling (MBTC) is the integration of the practices and skills of mindfulness meditation and trauma-informed counselling. This presentation will include experiential practices of mindfulness meditation.

Service User/Service Provider Collaboration: Are Effective Partnerships Possible?
Judith Dunlop, RSW

Government policy that focuses on collaborative partnerships between service users and providers has created a new level of accountability for social workers and social service workers. Despite government mandated collaboration, service users find little opportunity to share their views about improving services with providers. The results from studies of service user/service provider collaboration in Canada, the United States and Scotland are presented.

Moving Forward: Standards of Practice and Strategic Directions
Glenda McDonald, RSW

This presentation will introduce the revised Standards of Practice for College members. After comprehensive consultation, the standards have been updated to ensure applicability to all areas of practice and compliance with new legislation. Attendees will also have an opportunity to provide input which will inform the strategic plan of the College for 2008 and beyond.