Theme 4: Recruitment, Retention and Service Delivery

Social work oversight impacts who can enter the social work profession, who can call themselves a social worker (title protection) and, in certain jurisdictions, who can engage in certain activities (the Social Workers Act defines social work as: the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of individual, interpersonal and societal issues through the use of social work knowledge, skills, interventions and strategies, to assist individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and communities to achieve optimum psychological and social functioning).

In B.C., the Social Workers Act requires anyone using the title social worker to be registered with the BC College of Social Workers unless they are exempt under the Social Workers Regulation. Exemptions include those employed by provincial and federal governments; municipalities, regional districts and boards of education; First Nations; MCFD and Delegated Aboriginal Agencies (DAAs); and post secondary institutions.

This engagement will explore the strengths and challenges of the current oversight model on recruitment and retention of social workers in B.C.