Why
Should I Consult a Social Worker?
Where Do Social Workers
Work?
Do I Need a Referral to See a Social
Worker?
Are
Social Work Services Covered by OHIP?
What If I Have a Complaint Against a Social
Worker?
Who Consults a Social
Worker?
People from all age groups and all walks of life consult social
workers. Social workers provide services to individuals, couples,
families, groups, communities and corporations.
Why Should I Consult a Social
Worker?
People consult social workers when they are going through a
difficult period in their personal, family and work life. Social
workers 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, and
mediate between conflicts.
Social workers provide the majority of counselling and
psychotherapy services in Ontario.
Social workers provide a variety of services, including:
- individual, family and couple assessment and counselling
- psychotherapy
- mediation/alternate dispute resolution
- custody/access assessments
- employee assistance programs (EAPs)
- adoptions
- career/employment counselling and placement
- vocational assessments/rehabilitation
- stress management
- counselling for eating disorders
- grief, loss and trauma counselling
- addictions counselling
- mental capacity assessment
Where Do Social Workers
Work?
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.
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.
To find a social worker in private practice in your area, visit
www.FindASocialWorker.ca.
To access public services:
- Check your local telephone listings for organizations in your
area.
- In the Yellow Pages, check under "Social and Human Service
Organizations" or "Mental Health Services".
- Dial "211" or visit www.211ontario.ca.
- Emergency numbers are listed on the first page of your
telephone book.
Do I Need a
Referral to See a Social Worker?
No, but you may wish to discuss this issue with your doctor who
can certainly refer you to a social worker. In some cases, this may
allow you to receive coverage under an extended health plan.
Are Social Work Services
Covered by OHIP?
In general, social work services are not covered by OHIP;
however, the services of social workers who work in agencies are
often available at no charge to clients or on a sliding scale.
Examples of publicly-funded organizations are schools, hospitals,
community agencies, children's aid societies and family service
organizations. To access public services, check your local
telephone listings under "Social and Human Service
Organizations".
Social work services provided by private practitioners are
billed by the hour. They may be covered under a private health plan
or employee group benefits plans. More and more insurance companies
will cover social work services in individual policies or group
health plans if asked to do so. If social work is not currently on
the list of professional services covered in your insurance plan,
ask that it be added.
What If I Have a
Complaint About a Social Worker?
The practice of social work in Ontario is regulated by the
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
(OCSWSSW). All OCSWSSW members are subject to a Code of Ethics and
Standards of Practice. If you have concerns about the conduct or
actions of a social worker in Ontario, contact the College directly
for information regarding the complaints process or visit www.ocswssw.org.