Frequently Asked Questions
Supervised practice hours are completed after registration, while you are registered on the provisional registry. They are not completed before registration.
Supervised practice hours are completed after registration, while you are registered on the provisional registry. They are not completed before registration.
Yes. You will have access to a practice permit that shows you are on the provisional registry. You are entitled to use the following protected titles and abbreviations: registered social worker, social worker, RSW, SW, and soc. wkr.
If you are actively practicing in the scope of social work practice for pay or in a volunteer capacity you must be registered. If you are unsure if you are working in the scope of social work practice, please contact practice.consultation@acsw.ab.ca
If you are not practicing within the scope of social work practice, there are three options available:
- Remain active,
- Change status to inactive to accommodate a temporary leave from practice or employment
- Withdraw your registration to accommodate exiting practice or employment
If you choose to change your registration status to inactive, you will not have a practice permit. This status is designed for those on temporary leave, such as parental leave, and medical leaves of absence for one to five years. Inactive status must be renewed annually.
If you choose to withdraw your registration while you are not practicing, you must reinstate it before you return to social work practice.
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.
The ACSW Standards of Practice outline the requirements around informed consent. Whether you are in private practice or employed by an organization or agency, the consent requirements are the same.
Consider the context and information a client would reasonably expect to receive about the services you provide and how you provide them in order to ask questions and make an informed decision about consent.
Mentoring, coaching, consultation and supervision can often be used interchangeably; however, they are distinct activities, used for different purposes with different accountabilities.
Mentoring
Mentoring describes a relationship in which a more experienced colleague shares their greater knowledge to support the development of an inexperienced individual. Mentoring is typically a long-term, relationship-based process focused on career development and personal growth. Its goals are twofold:
• transferring knowledge and skills
• offering an opportunity for emotional support, confidence-building, and networking
Coaching
Coaching is a collaborative process focusing on specific skills and goals mutually defined by the coach and coachee. It is a structured, goal-oriented process that is typically performance-driven and focuses on specific results within a set timeframe.
Consultation
The Standards of Practice define consultation as “a problem-solving process in which professional expertise is offered to an individual, group, organization or community.” In a professional practice context, consultation is a process that occurs between two or more professionals, where one is seeking help, insight, or assistance regarding a particular matter or problem. The focus is narrow and specific. Advice or guidance provided may or may not be put into action.
Supervision
The Standards of Practice defines supervision as “the professional relationship between a supervisor and a supervisee that includes evaluation and direction over the services provided and promotes the continued development of the supervisee’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide services in an ethical and competent manner.” In a supervisory relationship, the supervisor is responsible for the supervisee’s practice and can provide direction the supervisee must follow.
If you are considering establishing a private practice or have a private practice, consider reaching out to SWAA to connect with other social workers in the same area of practice.
If your question is about the Standards of Practice or Code of Ethics, ACSW offers a consultation service. If your question is about how to establish or manage a practice, consider reaching out to SWAA.
No, the ACSW will not be offering sessions on starting a private practice. The ACSW does offer consultations regarding the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. Consider exploring resources offered through the Social Workers Association of Alberta (SWAA) and the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW).