Social workers to become fully regulated: Self-governing college comes into effect April 1
Owen, B. (2014), Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved from: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/social-workers-to-become-fully-regulated-282527861.html
Social work in Manitoba will become a fully regulated profession beginning April 1.
The move, spelled out in regulations recently approved by cabinet, will end more than five years of efforts to ensure anyone who practises social work in Manitoba is registered with an approved, self-governing body. Registration would also see members of the profession meet standards of competence and be governed by a code of ethics.
"It's been quite a long time coming," Miriam Browne, registrar of the Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers, said Wednesday.
Browne said when the regulations take effect, under the 2009 Social Work Profession Act, the institute will formally change its name to the Manitoba College of Social Workers.
"We think it's a big step forward because for the first time ever, the title of social worker will be a protected title," Browne said.
"That means you can't call yourself a social worker after April 1 if you're not a member of the Manitoba College of Social Workers."
The change also meets one of the recommendations of the inquiry into the 2005 death of Phoenix Sinclair. The child moved in and out of foster care and suffered horrific abuse at the hands of her mother and stepfather before dying from her injuries. Her death was not discovered until the following year.
Commissioner Ted Hughes made 62 recommendations for improving the province's child-welfare system in a report released last January.
Hughes recommended all social workers hired by agencies to deliver services in the province have a bachelor of social work or equivalent degree as recognized by the college.
The regulations allow current social workers, who do not have a degree, to apply to the college as long as they meet certain requirements, such as producing documentation that he or she has worked as a social worker for at least 4,400 hours in the past five years.
"Social workers will receive far better support being members of a regulated profession," Browne said. "The public will also be far better protected by knowing there are minimum standards and minimum qualifications and ongoing professional development and ongoing training for members of the college."
Browne said one-third of the college's board of directors will be filled by members of the public. Its proposed size is 12 to 15 people.
"There will be public representation on the board and on committees, and certainly on the complaints and disciplinary committees," she said.
Under the regulations, those applying to the college must undergo criminal-record, child-abuse registry and adult-abuse registry checks.
Applicants must also "satisfy the registrar that his or her past and present conduct affords reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant will engage in professional practice safely, competently and ethically," according to the regulations.
bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 13, 2014.
The move, spelled out in regulations recently approved by cabinet, will end more than five years of efforts to ensure anyone who practises social work in Manitoba is registered with an approved, self-governing body. Registration would also see members of the profession meet standards of competence and be governed by a code of ethics.
"It's been quite a long time coming," Miriam Browne, registrar of the Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers, said Wednesday.
Browne said when the regulations take effect, under the 2009 Social Work Profession Act, the institute will formally change its name to the Manitoba College of Social Workers.
"We think it's a big step forward because for the first time ever, the title of social worker will be a protected title," Browne said.
"That means you can't call yourself a social worker after April 1 if you're not a member of the Manitoba College of Social Workers."
The change also meets one of the recommendations of the inquiry into the 2005 death of Phoenix Sinclair. The child moved in and out of foster care and suffered horrific abuse at the hands of her mother and stepfather before dying from her injuries. Her death was not discovered until the following year.
Commissioner Ted Hughes made 62 recommendations for improving the province's child-welfare system in a report released last January.
Hughes recommended all social workers hired by agencies to deliver services in the province have a bachelor of social work or equivalent degree as recognized by the college.
The regulations allow current social workers, who do not have a degree, to apply to the college as long as they meet certain requirements, such as producing documentation that he or she has worked as a social worker for at least 4,400 hours in the past five years.
"Social workers will receive far better support being members of a regulated profession," Browne said. "The public will also be far better protected by knowing there are minimum standards and minimum qualifications and ongoing professional development and ongoing training for members of the college."
Browne said one-third of the college's board of directors will be filled by members of the public. Its proposed size is 12 to 15 people.
"There will be public representation on the board and on committees, and certainly on the complaints and disciplinary committees," she said.
Under the regulations, those applying to the college must undergo criminal-record, child-abuse registry and adult-abuse registry checks.
Applicants must also "satisfy the registrar that his or her past and present conduct affords reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant will engage in professional practice safely, competently and ethically," according to the regulations.
bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 13, 2014.
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