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Independent, but connected in our practice
A report from the NSCSW Private Practice Committee
The Private Practice committee spent the majority of 2019 addressing issues with the NSCSW bylaws regarding the registration of private practitioners. Social work private practitioners and their clients have also continued to face barriers in ensuring coverage of social work services through insurance companies. Parallel to these concerns, members working through the public mental health systems have expressed distress about the current direction of mental health care in Nova Scotia and the role of social work within this system.
Private practice bylaws
An agenda for our committee was defined by a motion carried by the membership at the 2018 AGM:
The committee spent much of its time writing a discussion paper and developing two core recommendations to NSCSW members: that we deregulate private practice, and create a voluntary clinical registration category. These recommendations and their rationales were debated and discussed at the 2019 AGM, with the general feeling expressed was that a clinical registry should be explored more. Council has agreed and once the Private Practice Committee has completed its core objectives a new committee will be formed to further explore the issue.
Recommended rates
The committee also completed a scan of the recommended rates for private practitioners for various professions. We concluded that the recommended fee for private practice masters-level and PhD social workers registered with the College would be a minimum rate of $160.00 per session.
Individual practitioners will always retain the autonomy to set and adjust their fees. The recommended rate is provided as a guideline to inform clients of what they can expect to pay for social work services in a private practice setting. This rate is also set to assist third‐party payers (i.e insurers, government, and private business) so they can make informed decisions when adjusting their reimbursement rates for their services.
Advocacy
Finally, after the 2019 AGM, the committee turned its attention to the design of an advocacy strategy for greater access to mental health services for Nova Scotians through access to Private Practitioners. The campaign which we hope to launch this summer will Identify employers, unions and organizations who currently do not cover social workers in their insurance plan. We will develop social media content and a letter writing campaign, as well as a presentation to deliver to targeted groups.
Committee members:
Nelda Armour, Lynn Brogan (staff), Tonya Grant, Jeff Karabanow, Jennifer Morris (chair), April Munro-Wood, Pam Roberts, Denise Robichaud, Alec Stratford (staff), Heidi Sturgeon, Beth Toomey, Jennifer Van Kessel, Annemieke Vink.
