Substantial Equivalency in Ontario: A Canadian Example

Transcription

1 Equivalency Standards in Education and Regulatory Practice: International Mobility Substantial Equivalency in Ontario: A Canadian Example Lise Betteridge, MSW, RSW Deputy Registrar Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

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3 3 The OCSWSSW Regulates the practice of social work and social service work in Ontario Mandate is public protection Registration provides public confidence that members are professional, ethical, qualified and accountable Registration Regulation O. Reg. 383/00 made under the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, different routes to registration while maintaining standards for entry-to-practice

4 4 The Many Faces of Mobility Movement between Canadian jurisdictions labour mobility legislation (AIT) Internationally-trained social workers seeking registration Applicants seeking registration under substantial equivalence

5 5 The Context: AIT Federal Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) was initially implemented in Canada in 1995 Chapter 7 of AIT deals with labour mobility Stated intent: to enable any worker qualified for an occupation in the territory of a Party to be granted access to employment opportunities in that occupation in the territory of any other Party Amendments in 2009: new approach Put federal umbrella over what is regulated provincially (regulation)

6 6 Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 Introduced as a result of changes to AIT in 2009, as part of a nationwide initiative to support labour mobility Alberta and Saskatchewan - permitted to assess academic qualifications Must satisfy criteria for registration: Copy of every current certificate, license or permit for social work issued by a Canadian SW regulatory authority In Good Standing Certificate Currency Satisfy the general requirement from the Registration Regulation

7 7 The Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998 Registration Regulation O. Reg. 383/00 General route to registration for social work: Degree in social work from a Canadian social work program accredited by the CASWE Degree in social work from an American social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Degree in social work from outside Canada or the US evaluated by CASW as equivalent to a minimum of a BSW accredited by CASWE

8 8 The CASW Evaluation of SW Degrees Applicants must have degree evaluated prior to submitting their application to OCSWSSW Uses the Directory from the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) Aware of accreditation standards: CASWE May consult with SWs who have familiarity with social work practice and education in the country of origin Consider individual s program of study and academic program as a whole

9 9 International SW Applicants Country of Training Country of Training of SW Applicants in 2014 Number of Applicants Percentage of Overall Applicants United States % India % United Kingdom 6 0.4% Ireland 3 0.2% Australia 2 0.1% Other % Total %

10 10 SW Applicants Registered in Province/ Country of Training Country/ Province of Training Number of Applicants Who Became Fully Registered Percentage of New SW Members Ontario % Other Provinces % United States % Other International % Unknown % Total %

11 11 SW Members - Jurisdiction of Initial Training Country of Training Number of SW Members Percentage of Overall Members Canada 13, % United States % Other International % Unknown (AIT) % Total 15, %

12 12 The Social Work and Social Service Work Act, Ontario Equivalency route: Degree from SW program that is not accredited by CASWE or CSWE Degree from outside Canada or the US that was evaluated by CASW as not being equivalent to the minimum BSW accredited by CASWE Degree that is not in SW

13 13 Alternate Routes to Registration SW Combination of academic qualifications and experience performing the role of a social worker Submitted for the Registrar s consideration and determination Must be substantially equivalent to the qualifications required for a degree in social work from a social work program accredited by the CASWE

14 14 Registration Policy Based on CASWE accreditation standards A minimum of a university-level Bachelor s degree Content judged to be minimally equivalent to 10 undergraduate university level courses in 12 specific areas Must have performed the role of a social worker for one year Within this year, 700 hours of practice must have been supervised by a social worker

15 15 Experience Performing the Role of a Social Worker Scope of Practice for Social Work: The scope of practice of the profession of social work means the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of individual, interpersonal and societal problems through the use of social work knowledge, skills, interventions and strategies, to assist individuals, dyads, families, groups, organizations and communities to achieve optimum psychosocial and social functioning.

16 Questions and Discussion 16