Some RSWs in private practice supplement their income with a day job or by sub-contracting with other service providers. While this approach can relieve the financial pressures of starting a new business, it can also create conflicting interests and priorities.

Before you set up your private practice with multiple income streams, it may be helpful to reflect on the following questions:

  • What are my short term and long term income needs and goals?

  • How will I prioritize in times of high work volume?

  • What policies do I need to consider if a client asks to switch to my private practice?

  • Am I required to declare my self-employment activities with my employer?

  • Is it ethical to inform my clients of my private practice?

Review your Standards of Practice and Ethics and any applicable workplace policies to identify specific instructions that apply to you.

Canada
CASW Social Media Use and Social Work Practice

CASW Code of Ethics

CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice

Alberta
ACSW standards of practice

(ACSW adopted CASW Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice, see CASW Code of Ethics and CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice)

British Columbia
BCCSW Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice

Saskatchewan
SASW Standards of Ethical Practice for Professional Social Workers in Saskatchewan

(SASW adopted CASW Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice, see CASW Code of Ethics and CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice)

Manitoba
MCSW Standards of Practice

(MIRSW adopted CASW Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice, see CASW Code of Ethics and CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice

Ontario

OCSWSSW Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice

Quebec
Code des professions
Code de déontologie des membres de l'Ordre professionnel des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec
Code of ethics of the members of the Ordre professionnel des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec
and other documents

New Brunswick
Standards for the Use of Technology in Social Work Practice 

NBSAW Code of Ethics

(NBASW adopted CASW Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice, see CASW Code of Ethics and CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice)

Nova Scotia
Standards of Practice

(NSASW amended and adopted CASW Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice, see CASW Code of Ethics and CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice)

PEI 

Standards of Practice

(PEI adopted CASW Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice, see CASW Code of Ethics and CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice)

Newfoundland and Labrador
Practice Standards
(NLASW adopted CASW Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice, see CASW Code of Ethics and CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice

Northern Canada
Standards of Practice 
(Northern Canada supports and expanded on the CASW Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Ethical Practice)