Who Consults a Social Worker?
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 About 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".
In the Toronto area, dial "211" or visit www.211toronto.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.
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