Complaints regarding sexual abuse and sexual misconduct
Social workers, as health care professionals, are in a position of power over a patient, by virtue of having professional knowledge and skill that a patient must rely on for their well-being. Health care professionals must always maintain professional boundaries with their patients.
Special rules and laws have been enacted in the Health Professions Act (HPA) to deal with sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. Regulated health professionals, including registered social workers, are prohibited from engaging in any form of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct with a patient.
Do you think a registered social worker may have violated a boundary or otherwise engaged in sexual misconduct or abuse?
Did your registered social worker do something to make you feel uncomfortable? Were you inappropriately touched? Was something sexually suggestive said?
We recognize that coming forward with a complaint about sexual abuse or misconduct can be very difficult. If you believe a registered social worker may have crossed a sexual boundary, we urge you to contact us at 780-421-1167 and ask to speak to a complaints director.
Complaints of a sexual nature may involve:
- Sexual advances: This could include a registered social worker making sexual advances such as invitations to engage in a sexual relationship.
- Inappropriate comments or gestures: This could include saying something sexually suggestive or seductive to you, commenting unnecessarily about sexual relationships or sexual orientation, making sexually insulting or offensive comments or jokes, or giving unwanted attention (like kissing).
- Sexual contact or assault: This encompasses everything from inappropriate touching to sexual assault. It also includes any sexual contact between a social worker and a client that would otherwise be considered consensual.
Why report?
Coming forward about a sexually inappropriate encounter you’ve experienced with a registered social worker can be incredibly difficult and there are many reasons why you may choose not to do so. There are, however, good reasons for reporting:
Public protection: Incidents of sexual abuse are often not isolated. By coming forward, you could help us act to ensure that what happened to you does not happen to someone else.
Awareness: As the regulator of registered social workers, we rely on individuals to make us aware when things aren’t right. We can only learn about sexual abuse from people who make complaints.
Your own sense of closure: If you’ve been the victim of sexual abuse by a registered social worker, knowing that there is an investigation and potential consequences may play a role in your healing process.