ACSW Website

Can my complaint be confidential?

The ACSW does not accept anonymous complaints. The Health Professions Act specifies that complaints must be written and signed. The registered social worker who is the subject of the complaint receives a copy of the complaint. It includes the name of the person who made the complaint, but not their contact information. The person who made the complaint remains involved throughout the complaints process. In some circumstances, the associate complaints director may act independently on information if there is a public protection concern.

What does an associate complaints director do?

The associate complaints director’s primary responsibility is to ensure safe, competent, and ethical social work practice is carried out by registered social workers in Alberta.

The associate complaints director plays a key role in:

Ensuring public protection by addressing public inquiries

Facilitating the complaints and discipline process

Responding to complaints about the professional conduct of registered social workers, and

Ensuring that the legislative requirements set out in the HPA, part 4 are met

What to expect from an associate complaints director?

People who have made a complaint can expect to be kept informed about what is happening in the complaints process and any decisions that are made.