MANDATORY SOCIAL WORK REGISTRATION FAQ. April 27, 2015

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1 MANDATORY SOCIAL WORK REGISTRATION FAQ April 27, Q: Why Mandatory Registration? A: Under The Social Work Profession Act, only those people who hold a current certificate of practice with the Manitoba College of Social Workers will be entitled to represent themselves as a practising social worker or use the designation of Social Worker or Registered Social Worker. This is not about job titles. Professional regulation provides the public with the reasonable expectation that those individuals representing themselves as Social Workers have the specialized knowledge and skills required for entry to practice. This is also important to other Social Workers as it provides them with the confidence that their Social Work colleagues meet minimum professional standards necessary to use the title Social Worker or Registered Social Worker. This model also requires that the Manitoba College of Social Workers (MCSW) establish a complaints and discipline system. This allows members of the public, including an expectation that Employers, express concerns about professional services they receive, and provides a process to investigate and, if necessary, discipline a Social Worker who fails to meet professional standards of practice. The primary mandate for all professional regulatory organizations is the protection of the public interest from incompetent or unethical practitioners. For more information please see College of Social Workers.olasoft.com/uploaded/web/MCSW%20FAQ.pdf 2. Q: What do I need to do if I am not registered and I work for the WRHA? A: Affected staff is expected to immediately begin the registration process. Information can be obtained through Manitoba College of Social Workers, College of Social Workers.mb.ca/. Or by calling the College s Registrar at (204) Staff who is not currently registered but who hold a Social Work degree must make application to register and provide documented proof of same to their Manager by April 1 st. - Staff who does not hold a Social Work degree may apply for registration through a grandparented provision. Staff in this category must provide documented proof to 1 P a g e

2 their Manager that they have initiated the grandparenting application process prior to June 1st. In both cases, staff will need to supply written confirmation to their Manager of their registration or evidence to support that they have begun the application process. confirmations are generated by the Manitoba College of Social Workers through the on-line application process. In subsequent years, confirmation of registration renewal to the employer will be required on an annual basis by March 31st. Staff shall ensure that confirmation includes their licence number and that the registration is in good standing and provide documented proof of same to their Manager by March 31st each year. 3. Q: Will I be receiving an individual letter outlining the expectation to register? A: No, individual letters will be not be provided to affected staff. Your Manager and Human Resources staff are available, though, to answer your questions. 4. Q: What WRHA positions are impacted by the new Social Work Professions Act? (i.e. Does the registration impact me as Home Care Case Coordinator? Community Mental Health Worker?) A: In determining the need for practitioners to register, the WRHA has used the College s considerations: the setting in which the individual provides service; the nature of the clientele served by the individual; the nature of the services provided or offered; whether clients believe service is provided by a Social Worker; and whether a reasonable member of the public would infer that the individual is a Social Worker. Where there is a requirement within a job description for a Social Work degree, registration is required. This includes such positions, for example, as Case Coordinator and Community Mental Health worker where the education requirement is a degree in one of a number of specified fields of study. If the incumbents are qualified for the position by virtue of attainment of a Social Work degree, then they must register just as other incumbents must register with their own professional bodies. *It is the responsibility of all Social Workers in the WRHA to take professional accountability to ensure they meet the requirements of this new legislation. Questions about whether a position, should or should not, meet licensing requirement should be directed to Human Resources* 2 P a g e

3 5. Q: What if I don t have the 40 hours of continuing education that is required to register with the College? A: All staff in the WRHA is expected to maintain their competency. Staff who has questions about whether they meet the Manitoba College of Social Work s registration requirements should contact the Registrar at (204) Q: When do I need to register by? A: The Social Work Professions Act is legislation. This legislation came into effect April 1, Social Workers are expected to begin the registration process immediately and inform their Managers of the steps they have taken to meet these legislative requirements and deadlines. See Question 2 above for further detail. 7. Q: Why do I need to register now, when I wasn t expected to do so in the past? A: This is a change. In the past Social Workers could voluntarily register. Now the Social Work Professions Act is law. Both staff and Employers must comply. 8. Q: What if I refuse to register? A: We recognize this may be a change for some staff. However, the expectation is that all staff will comply with this legislation. We will take steps to try and support you to meet the requirements. However, ultimately, Managers will be expected to follow appropriate disciplinary steps should staff refuse to comply with this legislation including temporarily suspending staff without pay until such time that they do comply. The Act states that A person who employs another person as a Social Worker must ensure that the Social Worker is registered under The Social Work Profession Act during the period of employment. If employees work as Social Workers, either by title or through representation, or are considered by the public to be Social Workers they must be registered with the College. The Social Work Profession Act requires that any person who employs a Social Worker is legally obligated to ensure that the Social Worker is registered. 9. Q: The Manitoba College of Social Workers says I have to have liability insurance. Am I covered by the WRHA insurance? A: WRHA staff are covered, in the performance of WRHA duties, by the WRHA s broad insurance policy provided by HIROC. It should be noted that, if you work a second job outside of your employment with WRHA, the WRHA liability coverage does not extend to this. In April 2015 the WRHA Director - Insurance & Related Risk has provided MCSW a letter confirming coverage of its Employed Social Workers as well as an Insurance Certificate that confirms such coverage. We can confirm that Employed WRHA Social Workers are covered for Liability coverage by the Region in excess of 2 Million. We are aware of the work that MCSW is undertaking, registration and confirmation of Liability coverage of its members. WRHA 3 P a g e

4 Employed Social Workers should sign and submit the Insurance Declaration Form sent out by the College, as well indicate the WRHA site location on the form. Q: I work in a Winnipeg Integrated Services office; will my Family Services co-workers have to register under this Act? A: All employers are required to comply with the new legislation. The WRHA has been working in partnership with the Civil Service Commission, Family Services and Labour Relations to both share and develop policies and procedures that will comply with this legislation. Employers may ultimately choose to take different approaches based on how they interpret and choose to implement the legislation. The College will work with those Employers individually. 10. Q: Is the WRHA going to pay my registration fee? A: No, the WRHA does not pay professional registration fees for any of its regulated professional clinical staff. Individuals are responsible for these fees and may be eligible to claim such professional expenses on their personal income tax returns. 11. Q: What if I can t afford to pay the registration fee? A: Staff will need to discuss a payment plan with Manitoba College of Social Workers. 12. Q: When I was hired, I wasn t expected to register and there was nothing about registration in my job posting, so am I exempted? A: No, there are no exemptions. As this is new legislation, employers and staff are required to change their practice and comply even if they did not do so in the past. On a go forward basis all relevant job postings and job descriptions will be reviewed to ensure that they reflect this legislation. 13. Q: Have you told my Union about this change? A: All Unions were notified of the Employer s intent to comply with the Social Work Professions Act. This notification was provided in February Q: I need to take time off to attend workshops so I can meet my continued education competencies. Will I be allowed to do so? Will Managers be given direction on this? A: Managers will be guided to support their staff as per any existing union agreement provisions regarding professional training and development. If Managers have questions about how to support their staff on approving education leave they should consult with their relevant Human resources representative. 15. Q: I am a Manager, do I need to register? 4 P a g e

5 A: The WRHA has concluded, based on the legislation, that First line Managers, such as those in the Community Manager positions, Manager of Social Work Departments, Patient Care Managers for example, will be expected to be registered with their relevant discipline licensing body. As such those Managers, who are Social Workers, are now expected to register. 16. Q: As a Manager I received the MB College of Social Worker s verification form for grandparented applications. What am I supposed to do with this form? A: The Manitoba College of Social Workers (MCSW) is the professional regulatory authority for the profession of Social Work in the province of Manitoba. The College issues Certificates of Registration and Certificates of Practice to Social Workers in the province who meet and maintain the eligibility criteria for registration. Applicants may apply for registration as a Social Worker through Section 11(1) of The Social Work Profession Act. This process is known as the Grandparenting route of entry and it allows for the registration of individuals without academic credentials based on their Social Work employment/volunteer experience within the past five years. The Manager should contact their respective Human Resources Department and the WRHA Regional Director of Social Worker who jointly will assist in completing the Employer Verification form. 17. Q: I have been accepted as a grand-parented applicant with the MCSW, can I apply for BSW specific jobs? A: The Employer still has the right to request that relevant applicants demonstrate the necessary competence, knowledge and skills to perform the duties of a specific job. In these situations the Employer has the right to request that applicants have a Bachelor of Social Work regardless as to whether an individual has been accepted under the grand-parented clause of the Social Work Professions Act. 18. Q: As a Manager I have begun the progressive discipline process with one of my staff who is a Social Worker. Do I have to notify the College? A: Under section 74 (2) of the Social Work Professions Act the Employer has a responsibility to notify the MCSW if they terminate a social worker for misconduct, incompetence or incapacity. 19. Q: As a Manager I have received a request from the MCSW to complete a Discipline Document, what should I do with this form? A: The Manager should contact their respective Human Resources Department and the WRHA Regional Director of Social Worker who jointly will assist in completing the Employer verification form. 5 P a g e

6 20. Q: As a member of the College I believe that another member who is an employee of the WRHA is suffering from a physical or mental condition or disorder that makes him or her unfit to practice. What should I do? A: Pursuant to Section 73(1) of the Social Work Professions Act, members have a duty to inform the College of the belief and the reasons for this belief. However, WRHA staff is encouraged to discuss their concerns with their co-worker or their Manager so that steps can be taken to support this staff member. 6 P a g e