Taking care of your mental health begins with making informed choices. Learn how Ontario’s regulated social workers and social service workers ensure safe, ethical and professional support.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Taking the significant step of seeking support for your mental and emotional wellness is the greatest act of self-care you can give to yourself and to your loved ones. As the winter months approach, when shorter days and colder weather can weigh more heavily on our well-being, knowing where to turn for help becomes even more critical.
That’s when registered social workers and social service workers become your partners in navigating life’s challenges.
We are the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). As the provincial regulator of the largest group of regulated mental health professionals in Ontario, we ensure all our registrants follow the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice to protect the public and to provide ethical, effective and community-centred care.
Why professional accountability matters
When you share your personal challenges, you are placing immense trust in another person. It’s essential that this trust is well-founded.
Your trust deserves protection.
Turning to a registered professional means you are working with someone whose qualifications have been verified and who is committed to upholding professional and ethical practice. This oversight framework is designed to protect the public. It ensures that practitioners have the necessary education and skills to provide competent care and are accountable for the support they provide.
A growing network of qualified care
Access to this kind of professional support is expanding, benefiting Ontarians across the province. As the need for mental health services has grown across the province, so has the number of registered social workers and social service workers ready to meet that demand. These regulated professionals play a key role in the mental health care system, and are equipped to help you and your loved ones navigate challenging times. When you are ready to reach out, there are trustworthy and qualified individuals available.
Get peace of mind: choose a regulated mental health practitioner
The OCSWSSW provides a transparent and accessible Online Register to help you confirm the credentials of all social workers and social service workers in Ontario. This comprehensive and up-to-date tool allows you to confirm a professional’s status in just a few clicks. It’s a quick way to ensure they are accountable to the OCSWSSW and held to ethical and professional standards.
Through the Online Register, you can:
- Confirm that an individual is registered with the OCSWSSW.
- Check their employment information.
- View any specific terms, conditions or limitations on their practice.
- See if they have any history of disciplinary action.
This transparency gives you peace of mind, ensuring your care is in qualified and accountable hands.
Your well-being, supported
All Ontarians deserve access to trustworthy and compassionate support on their journey to better mental well-being. Social workers and social service workers are here to help people navigate their mental health challenges, this winter and beyond.
Trust one of yours with one of ours. Learn more at OCSWSSW.org.
