Issued: December 20, 2021
Leanne (Dawn) Archambault
On September 18, 2014, the Nova Scotia Association of Social Workers (the predecessor to the College) granted Leanne (Dawn) Archambault temporary registration as a Social Worker Candidate with the Association. Ms. Archambault’s temporary registration expired on September 30, 2014. She did not seek further registration with the Association.
In November 2014, the Association discovered that Ms. Archambault had used falsified educational credentials to obtain her temporary registration as a Social Worker Candidate. The Association also learned that Ms. Archambault also used falsified educational credentials to secure employment as a social worker in Nova Scotia. Ms. Archambault’s then employer terminated her employment immediately upon discovering the falsified credentials.
In September 2021, the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers learned that Ms. Archambault again used falsified educational credentials to secure employment as a social worker. The College also discovered that Ms. Archambault provided her employer with a forged Certificate of Membership and Registration from the College. This employer and Ms. Archambault discontinued the employment relationship prior to the employer discovering the falsified documentation.
The College has a statutory duty to serve and protect the public interest in the practice of social work. Accordingly, in consideration of Ms. Archambault’s persistent pattern of unauthorized practise and the serious risk to the public in allowing an unregistered and unqualified person to practise social work and hold herself out as a social worker, the College sought a permanent injunction against Ms. Archambault.
On December 20, 2021, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia declared that Ms. Archambault contravened subsection 55(1) of Social Workers Act by doing the following acts despite not holding registration with the College as a social worker:
- practising as a social worker;
- using the titles of social worker and Registered Social Worker;
- making use of the abbreviation of the title Registered Social Worker: “RSW”;
- advertising and representing herself as a social worker and Registered Social Worker;
- acting and representing herself in such a manner as to lead to the belief that she was authorized to fill the office of or to act as a social worker and Registered Social Worker; and.
- engaging in the private practice of social work without approval of the Board of Examiners of the College
The Court issued a Permanent Injunction ordering that Ms. Archambault is permanently restrained and enjoined from:
- practising social work;
- using the title of social worker or Registered Social Worker (or any abbreviation of that title);
- holding herself out as a social worker;
- applying for employment or a volunteer position in the field of social work, and
- engaging in the private practise of social work,
until and unless she obtains registration from the College to undertake these activities.
The Court also ordered that Ms. Archambault remove any and all in print or online statements where she describes herself as a social worker.
Lastly, the Court ordered Ms. Archambault pay $5,000 to the College in costs.
Ms. Archambault consented to the terms of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia’s order.