Health and Community Services
December 15, 2014

Enhancing Quality Care for Families and Communities

Amendments to Social Workers Act Strengthen Quality Assurance Measures

Amendments to the Social Workers Act were introduced in the House of Assembly today. The proposed amendments will authorize the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers to utilize quality assurance measures to monitor a social worker’s practice and enhance client care. In addition, the amendments will require that social workers report conduct of another social worker deserving of sanction to the Association’s Registrar.

“Social workers provide valuable care and services to the people of our province every day. They work with our children, adolescents and seniors in the fields of education, justice and within the health care system. The work they do is crucial and they take great pride in the quality of the care and services they provide to their clients. These quality assurance measures will provide further checks and balances within the profession to ensure that social workers are delivering the best services and care to the people who rely and depend on their expertise.”
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

One of the amendments requires the establishment of a Quality Assurance Committee with the responsibility to carry out quality assurance reviews. This proactive review includes assessing the quality of care provided by social workers, identifying any areas of concern, establishing remedial action to address the concern and monitoring the social worker’s practice to ensure that the remedy is effective in addressing the concern.

The Social Workers Act will also be amended to include a requirement that social workers report to the Registrar conduct deserving of sanction of another social worker. This is required when a social worker has knowledge of such conduct deserving of sanction from direct observation or objective evidence.

“We have worked closely with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers to develop these amendments. The ability to assess and address potential issues earlier enhances the care provided within our overall system. This amendment will strengthen the authority of the Association to assist in fulfilling its mandate to protect the public by maintaining a high standard for social workers who practice in this province.”
- Minister Kent

There are currently five health profession statutes that contain quality assurance provisions. These are the Health Professions Act, Medical Act, 2011, Optometry Act, 2012, Psychologists Act, 2005, and Pharmacy Act, 2012. With the passage of Bill 32, an Act to Amend the Registered Nurses Act, 2008, debated in the House of Assembly earlier this session, and now An Act to Amend the Social Workers Act, there will be seven health profession statutes, representing 12 health professions and approximately 11,000 health professionals that contain quality assurance provisions.

QUICK FACTS

• Amendments to the Social Workers Act were introduced in the House of Assembly today.
• The proposed amendments add provisions to authorize the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers to utilize quality assurance measures to monitor a social worker’s practice and enhance client care.
• The amendments require the establishment of a Quality Assurance Committee that will assess the quality of care provided by social workers, identify any areas of concern, establish remedial action to address the concern and monitor the social worker’s practice to ensure that the remedy is effective.
• In addition, the amendments will also require that social workers report conduct deserving of sanction of another social worker to the Association’s Registrar.
• The amendments provide the ability to assess and address potential issues earlier and build on disciplinary measures currently in the Social Workers Act.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca

2014 12 15                                        3:15 p.m.