We know that many Social Workers across Canada provides virtual services to clients through video conference, Skype, Zoom, and telephone. This page offers some resources to support Social Workers in this process. 

If you have not yet purchased liability insurance for your practice, click here to access CASW’s national liability insurance program offered through BMS – it is the only program in Canada for social workers with coverage specific to E-services. 

CASW advises you to review the Standards of Practice on this subject put forward by your Provincial Regulatory Body:

 

Province Standards of Practice for E-Services Additional Provincial Resources

 

British Columbia College of Social Workers 

 

Standards of Practice: Technology and Social Work Practice

Temporary Class of Registration

The BC Provincial Health Services Authority - COVID-19 Virtual Health Toolkit 

Alberta College of Social Workers 

Standards of Practice - See section E.3 Technology in Social Work Practice 

Courtesy Registry - Multi-jurisdictional

Application Requirements for Courtesy Registration

Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers

Standards of Practice For Registered Social Workers in Saskatchewan

Applicants with Current Practicing Registration with a Social Work Regulatory Body in Canada

The Social Workers Regulatory Bylaws, 2023- See Temporary practising membership  and Interjurisdictional electronic practising membership in Membership

 

Manitoba College of Social Workers

 

Electronic Social Work Practice

Standards of Practice

Electronic Social Work Practice Information Sheet

Telemental Health Informed Consent

Temporary Authorization – Electronic Social Work Practice

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers 

Professional and Ethical: Communication Technology Practices and Policies for a Digital World

Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice

Are you a registered social worker practising in Canada who is interested in practising electronically – by exclusive means – in Ontario?

Q&A: Practising Electronically In Ontario 

Practising Electronically in Ontario

Cross-Jurisdictional Practice
Social Media and Practice: Protecting Privacy and Professionalism in a Virtual World 

Top 10 Considerations for Using Communication Technology in Practice

“But How Do I Know If I’m Competent?” – Issues to Consider

Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec

Normes réglementaires pour les technologies et la pratique du travail social  

New Brunswick Association of Social Workers

Standards for the Use of Technology in Social Work Practice

Letter of Guidance Re: Technology and Social Work Practice

Temporary Authorized Membership

 

Nova Scotia College of Social Workers

 

Information on Telepractice

Transitioning to telepractice

Technology & Storage of Files

Telepractice from outside NS

Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers

Electronic Practice

Information for registered social workers (RSWs) in NL engaged in the practice of social work using electronic technologies.  

Information for Registered Social Workers from other Canadian jurisdictions

Prince Edward Island Social Work Registration Board

Standards of Practice

Private Practice Policy

Registration Process See Temporary Application Process

Government of Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services

Northwest Territories Standards of Practice for Social Workers

 

 

Additional Resources

CASW Private Practice Portal – scroll to 3.3 Virtual Counselling.

CASW Social Media Use and Social Work Practice

BMS/CASW E-services

E-Mental Health

NASW, ASWB, CSWE and CSWA Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice

Social Work Today: Eye on Ethics 

Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (2019) Guidelines for uses of technology in counselling and psychotherapy 

Public Service Health Care Plan - Temporary changes to accepted mental health practitioners - Social Workers included!

Virtual Care- CAMH

 

CASW Webinars