Celebrating Wendy Roberts

shared by social workers of the QEII-VG

Wendy Roberts, MSW, RSW retired from Nova Scotia Health on March 31, 2026. This tribute, written by a group of her former colleagues, honours Wendy as one of our social work heroes.

Though she was raised in Toronto, the seeds of Wendy’s social work career were planted during her Katimavik experience on Cape Breton Island.  She completed her bachelor’s degree at Ryerson University in Toronto, and later returned to Nova Scotia where she completed her MSW at Dalhousie University.

Over the past 37 years, while fostering youth, raising her twin daughters, and opening her home to international students, Wendy gained invaluable experience and expertise in healthcare social work. Her career took her from coast to coast, from the Emergency Unit and ICU in Prince George BC, to liver transplant and nephrology here in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Wendy’s introduction to nephrology social work practice came while covering the inpatient Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Unit at the Victoria General (VG) site of the QEII Hospital. For many years, she supported liver transplant patients who came from communities across Atlantic Canada, developing meaningful long-term relationships with patients and their families. Over time, Wendy truly became a leader in this field; she helped to plan and coordinate the annual Transplant Atlantic professional education day and contributed to the development of Atlantic Canada’s Multi-Organ Transplant Program.

After decades of working in acute inpatient care, Wendy chose to transfer to the new dialysis unit that opened at the Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Clinic in November 2023. Her open and welcoming presence helped to establish a supportive culture and community space for dialysis patients to receive their treatments three days a week.

Wendy has praised the courage, resilience and day-to-day heroism of dialysis patients. Her colleagues have been impressed by her ability to project a sense of calm, and her remarkable capacity to build rapport, develop trust, and to truly get to know those she supported.

One colleague noted, “I remember seeing so many folks dropping by her office and sitting down for a while. It’s like she slows things down somehow, and consistently had an open door for patients, families and team members alike.” Another often heard Wendy say late in the afternoon that she was going to visit her floors one last time to “tuck people in” before ending her workday.

Healthcare systems do not always fully understand the role of social work; and practitioners can sometimes be drawn into practices that fall outside the values, ethics & scope of the profession. However, Wendy’s praxis has been consistently grounded in her strong professional identity. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated compassion, creativity, imagination, initiative, and leadership, while consistently meeting the highest ethical standards. She is a fierce advocate for the social work profession and is highly regarded by both social work peers and interprofessional colleagues.

Throughout her career at Nova Scotia Health, Wendy was a valued mentor to many of her social work colleagues, and generous and enthusiastic field supervisor for students preparing to join the social work profession. She welcomed new team members with warmth, offered thoughtful guidance, and modeled a sustainable practice grounded in self-care and professional connection. She encouraged regular consultation, reflection, and resource sharing among social workers, helping others feel supported in their practice. Over the years, she has remained connected with many former students and colleagues, and the ripple effects of those relationships continue to shape a wide network of social workers; Wendy’s love for the profession has created a lasting sense of community.

Wendy’s remarkable career reflects a deep commitment to patients, families, colleagues, and the social work profession. We are proud to celebrate her many contributions, and the lasting difference she has made for our teams, our practice, and the communities she served.

Congratulations, Wendy, and thank you for everything! It has been both a privilege and a joy to work with you.

The social workers of the QEII-VG are proud to recognize Wendy Roberts and celebrate her many contributions to the profession. This tribute was prepared by Michelle Jensen, RSW, Rachel Millett, RSW, and Amy Fredericks, RSW, on behalf of the Social Work team at the QEII-VG, with Carol Miller, MSW, RSW, Social Work Professional Practice Coordinator at Nova Scotia Health.

Read more of Connection

• An open door, a lasting impactJune 4, 2026
• NSCSW Awards: A spotlight on our communityMarch 26, 2026
• The continuing evolution of trauma-informed praxisJanuary 29, 2026
• Spotlight: 2025 Student Bursary RecipientsJanuary 15, 2026
• Responding to the epidemic of gender-based violence: Reflections & invitations for the 16 Days of ActionDecember 10, 2025
• Healing in the crossfire: Clinical social work in a genocideNovember 5, 2025
• Healthcare erosion: “Why didn’t you press the button?”October 21, 2025
• Food, Body, and Bias: Why Your Words MatterSeptember 25, 2025
• Developing a standard of care for social work practice with people who use alcohol and drugsMay 7, 2025
• Book review: Active HopeApril 22, 2025

As social workers, we often face complex decisions when we must balance client privacy with the need to prevent harm. To help us navigate these high-risk situations, an important change has been made to the Nova Scotia Personal Health Information Act (PHIA). Effective April 1, 2026, the word “imminent” was removed from the provision that allows the discretionary disclosure of personal health information (PHI) without consent.

We want to ensure you understand exactly what this amendment means for your daily practice, and how our professional ethics and clinical standards guide these difficult choices.

What is Changing Under PHIA?

Previously, Section 38(1)(d) of PHIA allowed you to disclose PHI without a client’s consent if you have reasonable grounds to believe it will avert or minimize an “imminent and significant danger” to health or safety.

After April 1, 2026, the requirement for the danger to be “imminent” disappeared. The updated section allows disclosure if you believe, on reasonable grounds, that sharing the information will avert or minimize a significant danger to anyone.

This change was introduced as part of the Protecting Nova Scotians Act (Bill 127). Advocacy groups highlighted that waiting for a danger to become “imminent” created unnecessary barriers. By removing this word, the law empowers you to share vital, limited information sooner to prevent a crisis from escalating. This update also aligns Nova Scotia with provinces like Alberta and Manitoba, which have removed similar requirements to support better safety interventions.

What This Means for Your Practice

This amendment lowers the legal threshold for sharing information, but it does not change the core responsibilities of your role. Here is what you need to consider:

• A Shift in Urgency: Urgency still matters, but you no longer need to wait until a danger is on the verge of occurring before you act.
• Reasonable Grounds: You must base your decision on professional judgment, client history, collateral information, and thorough assessments.
• Discretionary Action: Disclosure remains a discretionary choice, not a mandatory requirement. You must assess each situation individually.
• Minimum Necessary: You should only share the minimum amount of information required to address the danger.

Let Our Code of Ethics Guide You

The NSCSW Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice & Clinical Standards of Practice provide a strong framework for making these discretionary disclosure decisions. When applying the new PHIA guidelines, lean on these foundational principles:

Balancing Privacy and Protection

Maintaining Privacy and Confidentiality (Value 6) stresses our professional obligation to safeguard client information. Standards 6.1 and 6.4 require us to disclose confidential information only with valid consent or when legally justified. The PHIA amendment provides that legal justification, but we must remain transparent about the limits of confidentiality and share only what is absolutely necessary.

Respecting Dignity While Upholding Safety

Respecting the Dignity and Worth of All People (Value 1) emphasizes client autonomy and self-determination. However, Standard 1.9 requires us to uphold the right of every person to be free from violence. Navigating the tension between respecting a client’s choices and protecting them or others from harm is a central ethical dilemma. The removal of “imminent” allows you to act proactively to uphold safety while minimizing harm.

Preserving Integrity and Valuing Relationships

Valuing Human Relationships (Value 4) asks us to weigh the risk of damaging the therapeutic alliance against the risk of danger. Preserving Integrity in Professional Practice (Value 5) ensures we act with honesty, responsibility, and accountability. You must trust your clinical expertise and situational awareness to make these tough calls.

Promoting Social Justice and Competence

Promoting Social Justice (Value 2) calls on us to advocate for the safety and well-being of our communities. Furthermore, Providing Competent Professional Services (Value 7) and Standard 7.2 remind us to seek appropriate guidance when a situation feels beyond our immediate scope.

Key Next Steps for Social Workers

As you adjust to this change, keep a few practical considerations in mind:

• Check Mandatory Duties: Always ask yourself if a separate mandatory duty to report exists, such as under the Children and Family Services Act or the Adult Protection Act.
• Identify the Best Intervener: Determine who is best positioned to act. This might be law enforcement, a parent, or someone within the client’s immediate circle of support.
• Document Everything: You must meticulously document any disclosure made without consent in the client’s health record. Clear documentation demonstrates your professional judgment and ethical decision-making process.

While the concept of urgency still plays a vital role, the updated PHIA gives you more room to intervene before harm occurs. We encourage you to consult your manager, director, or legal and privacy services whenever you face a challenging disclosure decision.