COUNSELLING SERVICES

From individuals and families to organizations and communities, social workers collaborate with their clients to address challenges through a process of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation. Registered social workers have specialized university education and must participate in continued professional learning and skills development to fulfil the requirements of their professional regulatory body, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

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Social workers serve in a variety of workplace settings, from hospitals and community centres to schools and social service agencies. According to the College’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, the scope of practice of the profession of social work means the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of individual, interpersonal and societal problems through the use of social work knowledge, skills, interventions and strategies, to assist individuals, dyads, families, groups, organizations and communities to achieve optimum psychosocial and social functioning.

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In Ontario, in order to use the title Social Worker or Registered Social Worker you must be registered with the College. Typically, members of the College have obtained a Bachelor of Social Work degree (BSW), a Master of Social Work degree (MSW) or both. In Ontario, a BSW program is four years in duration and an MSW program is a further one to two years.