April 11, 2002

Select Committee Supports PSA Recommendations On Social Workers Legislation

Recommendations made by the PSA on the Social Workers Registration Bill, including one seeking to avoid “double jeopardy” during the complaints process, have been supported by the select committee considering the bill, PSA national secretary Bryce Fleury said today.

“The PSA included in its submission to the Social Services Committee, recommendations for improvements in the complaints process. These included recommending amendments to the time allowed for a social worker to respond to notice of the membership of the complaints assessment committee, and to the process whereby a social worker charged with misconduct could face investigation by both their employer and the registration board.”

Bryce Fleury said the PSA recommended that the complaints assessment authority, when dealing with a complaint, take into account any information arising from a previous investigation of that complaint before making its deliberations.

“The select committee agreed with us that social workers should not have to face two separate complaints processes, one through their employer and one with the registration board. The committee agreed to our recommendation that the evidence and decisions from any employment investigation should be considered by the registration board. While this won’t prevent the board undertaking its own investigation, it will assist in ensuring outcomes are consistent.”

He also said the PSA recommended that the amount of working days allowed for a social worker to respond to notice of the membership of the complaints assessment committee and seek changes to its membership be increased from five to fifteen.

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