Who can make a complaint? Any Nova Scotian may make a complaint to the NSCSW in writing against a social work member. A complaint may be made based off: 1. Professional misconduct which includes conduct or acts relevant to the social work profession that, regarding all circumstances, would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional. This may include but is not limited to: • contravening the Social Workers Act, regulations or by-laws • failing to maintain the standards of practice of social work • failing to uphold the Code of Ethics adopted by the College • abusing a person verbally, physically, emotionally or sexually • misappropriating personal property or other property belonging to a client or a member’s employer • failing to exercise appropriate discretion in respect of the disclosure of confidential information • falsifying records
2. Incompetence which is a social worker’s display of lack of knowledge, skill or judgement in the respondent’s delivery of social work services that, having regard to all the circumstances, rendered the respondent unsafe to practise at the time of such delivery of social work services or that renders the respondent unsafe to continue in practice without remedial assistance.
3. A breach of the Code of Ethics. 4. Conduct unbecoming by a Registered Social Worker, a Registered Social Worker Candidate or a Registered Social Worker (Provisional) which is conduct outside the practice of social work that tends to bring discredit upon the social work profession.
39 NSCSW Annual Report | 2018