Overview of the Profession
Social workers help individuals and families through difficult times, often with deeply personal and sensitive issues.
Social workers are found in many different places such as:
- hospitals
- family welfare
- seniors’ homes and organizations
- immigration and refugee agencies
- child protection
- prisons
- counselling services
- and many more
In British Columbia, except for those employed by exempt employers set out in the Social Workers Regulation, anyone representing themselves as a social worker must register with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW). This is how they are held accountable to the public for their actions.
You may look for a certificate on the wall or ask for their registration number indicating your social worker is a Registered Social Worker or Registered Clinical Social Worker.
Registered Social Workers are competent, trustworthy and ethical. They are held responsible by the BCCSW if they do not meet the high standards of the social work profession.
Social workers often provide complex services to vulnerable persons facing difficult times in their lives. Regulation serves the public interest by defining professional practice standards and holding social workers accountable to those standards.
For a complete list of documents and other resources that are of interest to the public, click here.
