Saturday, March 9, 2013

French language testing for Quebec Social Workers

French test for social workers raises concerns from English institutions

Elysia Bryan Baynes, Global News, March 06, 2013.

MONTREAL - Added to the heavy case loads of Quebec's social workers is yet another challenge: passing a French language test.

As of September 2012, Bill 21 - the act "to amend the professional code and other legislative provisions in the field of mental health and human relations" - came into effect. First introduced in March 2009, it requires many working in the social work field in Quebec to officially join the province's order of social workers.

The Bill directly affects workers at Montreal's Batshaw Youth and Family Services, which provides support in English for the developmental needs of children up to 18 years of age who require protection and rehabilitation services.

"Having to take the French language test is a stresser," explained Maureen Cohen, the head of human resources for Batshaw Youth and Family Services.

Hundreds of Batshaw Youth and Family Services' employees will be directly affected, although not all will be required to take the French language test. Only those who graduated from high school before 1986 or came to work in Quebec from another must take the exam. Of the 200 employees to join the Order of Quebec, 100 will need to take the French language test.

Applicants have four chances to take the exam. If they don't pass, they can continue working, but only doing the job they were doing before Bill 21 came into effect.

"You won't be considered for promotion or a change of job without the test. You're pretty much stuck," noted Wendy Thomson, Director and Professor at McGill University's School of Social Work.

Quebec's Order of Social Workers has been working with Batshaw Youth and Family Services to ensure a smooth transition.

"One or two institutions have contacted us saying they're concerned about some people not being able to pass the test," Richard Silver, a spokesperson from Quebec's Order of Social Workers, told Global News.

Many are also concerned about what the Bill will mean for recruiting English-speaking staff in the future.

"We're probably only one of the youth centres in Quebec that recruit from the rest of Canada and sometimes the U.S.," said Cohen.

© Shaw Media Inc., 2013. All rights reserved.

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