Professional Affiliations
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
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Established in 2000, the OCSWSSW is the regulatory college for social workers and social service workers in Ontario. As detailed on it's website, the OCSWSSW exists "to serve and protect the public from unqualified, incompetent and unfit practitioners” using tools including entry to practice requirements, maintaining a public register of College members, and a complaints and discipline process; the results of which are available to the public (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers [OCSWSSW], n.d.). Members of the College remain committed to upholding the values, ethics, and practice standards of the social work and social service work professions, demonstrating these in their life and work.
As part of annual membership renewal, the College requires the completion of an attestation of competence and fitness to practice in the social work profession, including confirmation of the completion of an annual Continuing Competence Plan (CCP) and disclosure of any misconduct, or investigations thereof (OCSWSSW, n.d.).
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Ontario Association of Social Workers
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Established in 1964, the OASW is the provincial organization representing the interests and concerns of social workers in Ontario. Tagged "the voice of social work in Ontario" the OASW endeavours to advocate for the profession, its members, and its clients, through speaking in favour of improved social policies and programs and supporting professional competence and role clarity (Ontario Association of Social Workers [OASW], n.d.). OASW offers extensive education and professional development opportunities for its members in support of continued improvement, understanding legislative and practice changes, and advancing health equity (OASW, n.d.).
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Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
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Founded in 1926, The CASW has been responsible for the establishment of practice standards for the profession of social work (Canadian Association of Social Workers [CASW], n.d.). The Association promotes the ethical practice of social work, with specific focus on the advancement of social justice through responsive social policies and services (CASW, n.d.).
CASW members are encouraged to develop continued competence through ongoing education, self awareness and evaluation, and to recognize the importance and impact of diversity in shaping personal and professional values and ethical practice decisions. (CASW, 2005)
References
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Canadian Association of Social Workers (n.d.). About CASW. https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/about-casw/about-casw
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Canadian Association of Social Workers (2005). Code of ethics. https://www.casw-acts.ca/files/documents/casw_code_of_ethics.pdf
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Government of Ontario (n.d -a). Home and community care. https://www.ontario.ca/page/home-community-care
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Government of Ontario (n.d-b). Improving health care in Ontario. https://www.ontario.ca/page/improving-health-care-ontario?_ga=2.115460038.1967318726.1642890982-1928674246.1642618499
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Home and Community Care Support Services Waterloo Wellington (n.d.). Care at home. http://healthcareathome.ca/ww/en/Getting-Care/Getting-Care-at-Home
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Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (n.d.). Local Health Integration Networks. https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/system/services/lhin/
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Ontario Association of Social Workers (n.d.). The voice of social work in Ontario. https://oasw.org/Public/About_OASW/The_Voice_of_Social_Work_In_Ontario.aspx
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Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (n.d.). About us. https://www.ocswssw.org/about-us/
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Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (2008). Code of ethics and standards of practice handbook (2nd ed.). https://www.ocswssw.org/ocswssw-resources/code-of-ethics-and-standards-of-practice/
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Ontario Health (n.d-a). Our team. https://www.ontariohealth.ca/our-team
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Ontario Health (n.d-b). Our work. https://www.ontariohealth.ca/our-work
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Ontario Health
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Formed under Bill 74: The People's Health Care Act, 2019, Ontario Health is the single agency responsible for overseeing the coordination and integration of health care in the province (Government of Ontario, n.d-b). Ontario Health aims to create a sustainable health care system that is cost-effective, and accountable to patients through use of centralized decision-making, and integrated care delivery, with goals of improved care experiences and health outcomes, and better clinical guidance and support for health practitioners (Government of Ontario, n.d-b).
Initiatives including, the use of digital health technologies, the establishment of the Mental Health and Addictions Centre for Excellence, and the implementation of Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) seek to change the trajectory of health care in Ontario; improving access, reducing wait times, and eliminating service duplication.(Government of Ontario, n.d-b; Ontario Health, n.d-b).
At present, Ontario Health oversees the work of several important health care organizations in the province including the Trillium Gift of Life Network, Cancer Care Ontario, Health Shared Services Ontario, and the 14 regional health authorities, recently rebranded as Home and Community Care Support Services (Ontario Health, n.d-a).
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Ontario Health atHome (OHaH)​
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Formerly Home and Community Care Support Services, OHaH is comprised of the 14 regional health authorities in the province of Ontario. OHaH is responsible for the regional coordination and implementation of patient care and service delivery (in home and in support of safe hospital discharge), long-term care placement, and facilitation and access to community services (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, n.d.). Previous health system planning and funding functions have been transferred to Ontario Health under Bill 175: Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020 (Government of Ontario, n.d-b.)
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OHaH employs registered health professionals (nurses, occupational and physiotherapists, speech therapists, social workers) to serve case management functions, including assessment of the need for, eligibility, and duration of care (Government of Ontario, n.d-a; Home and Community Care Support Services Waterloo Wellington [HCCSS WW], n.d.). Care provided under OHaH includes (but is not limited to) in-home service from registered health professionals, personal care and homemaking, assistance for families to manage patient care at home, and the provision of end-of-life care (in home or hospice) (Government of Ontario, n.d-a). OHaH seeks to provide comprehensive care that is well-matched to individual patient needs, in an effort to have patients remain at home safely, for as long as possible (HCCSS WW, n.d.)
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