About Social Workers

Social Workers

• assist individuals, families and communities to resolve problems that affect their day-to-day lives
• are consulted when people are going through a difficult period in their personal, family and/or work life
• help identify the source of stress or difficulty
• help people to develop coping skills and find effective solutions to their problems
• offer various forms of counselling and therapy
• mediate conflicts
• place a particular focus on prevention.

Social work is unique among the helping professions because:

• it focuses on people's problems in the context of their families, communities and workplaces
• it considers the connections between personal problems and the social conditions that either cause or sustain those problems.

Social workers are highly skilled problem-solvers, communicators and mediators. Their aim is to enhance mental health functioning by helping people participate more fully in relationships, work and community life.

Social workers also address complex social problems such as the multiple impacts of poverty, the lack of adequate housing, and barriers imposed by discrimination.

What social workers believe
Social workers believe in the value and worth of all people. They believe that all members of society regardless of age, race, place of origin, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation or abilities deserve the same basic rights, protections, opportunities, obligations and social benefits.

Where social workers work
Social workers deal with all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds, including the most vulnerable populations.

Social workers practice in a wide range of settings, including:

• family agencies
• children's aid societies
• hospitals
• mental health settings
• addiction treatment facilities
• correctional facilities
• schools
• seniors' services
• grassroots social action organizations
• government offices
• social planning councils
• employee assistance programs.

Social workers provide the majority of counselling and psychotherapy services in Ontario.

Many social work positions are funded directly or indirectly by governments (municipal, provincial or federal). Other social workers work for agencies funded by voluntary donations. A growing number of social workers are independent or private practitioners.

How social workers are regulated
Social workers are regulated by the Social Work and Social Service Work Act under the Ministry of Community and Social Services. This Act requires that anyone who calls themselves or holds themselves out to be a social worker must belong to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. The initials RSW (Registered Social Worker) appear after their name.

Click on OCSWSSW for more information.

Social work education
Social workers have university degrees in social work: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW) or Doctorate in Social Work (PhD/DSW).

Twelve universities across Ontario provide professional education for social workers.

OASW recognizes degrees from programs accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work and foreign degrees evaluated as equivalent by the Canadian Association of Social Workers.

For more information on a career in social work, click on [Social Work Career].