The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) is exploring the integration of social work into the health care system, a critical area where systemic barriers, patient safety, ethical complexities, and professional challenges converge. Through our Safe(R) Social Work Framework, we seek to address these challenges by exploring the need for a regulatory approach that prioritizes public safety, professional accountability, and advocacy towards the delivery of more equitable and safe(R) care.
Before moving forward with further development, we are hosting a series of consultation sessions to share our findings and invite feedback. Our outreach efforts will aim to ensure that the voices of social workers, academic institutions, management leaders, community groups, and the general public are all heard and valued.
Our mandate is to ensure that Nova Scotians receive safe, ethical, social work practices that align with values of the profession to promote social justice and equity. We achieve this by establishing scopes of practice, ethics and standards; setting standards for professional development; working to ensure compliance through oversight; and advocating for social policy that achieves social justice.
Presentation dates
- May 6, 12 noon — NSCSW members, any/all member classes & practice settings
- May 7, 6 p.m. — Nova Scotia residents
- May 13, Jun 12, Jun 18 — Health care management & leadership at Nova Scotia Health (NSH), IWK, and Department of Health & Wellness
- May 21 , 6 p.m. — Community representatives (by invitation)
- Jun 8 — Schools of social work in Nova Scotia, i.e. Dal, CBU, USteAnne (by invitation)
- Jun 10, Jun 11 — Social workers in NS public healthcare system, e.g. NSH, IWK
- Date TBD — Tajikeimɨk – Mi’kmaw Health & Wellness
Is there a plan to include a section for clinical specialists in the framework? I did not see that here and was just wondering. Thank you!
Also, I just want to say thank you to the College for working so hard to keep us informed, advocating, and navigating these sudden changes.
Great question, Jenn! Social workers who are mental health practitioners in the public system are absolutely included. The draft document doesn’t specifically name RSW-Clinical Specialists because our current regulatory framework only requires that level of registration for practitioners who are self-employed (i.e. solely liable for their practice). We do not require clinical social work practitioners working within the support and supervision of an employer to upgrade their registration at this time; they can choose for themselves whether it aligns with their personal and professional goals.
That said, our registration categories might well change once the province writes and enacts our new regulations next year. If you’re curious about that process, and especially if think you might have an opinion on which regulations social workers should be most strongly advocating for, I encourage you to try and make it to one of the in-person sessions in our cross-province roadshow this spring.