The Role of Social Workers in support of Public Trustee Services
Topic(s): 
NBASW-ATTSNB
Professional Practice
Webinar event date: 
Dec 1, 2025 11:00 am EST
Webinar link

Webinar link is for members only. Please log in.

Webinar Presenters: 
  • Christian Whalen, BA, LLB, DEA, Public Trustee

    Christian Whalen is a Fredericton based lawyer with over 30 years service with the Province of New Brunswick, as Legal Counsel to the Human Rights Commission, Ombuds’ Office and Child, Youth and Senior’s Advocate. He has served as a Board member with CANFASD, a national research network for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, since 2018 and holds an appointment as Adjunct Professor with UNB Law, where he teaches and contributes as a researcher, in children’s rights, access to information law and privacy, human rights, disability rights, youth justice, and mental health law and services. He has been awarded the Child Rights Champion Award by the Canadian Coalition on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Canadian Bar Association’s national John Tait Award of excellence for public sector counsel. In September 2024 he was appointed for a five-year term as Public Trustee for New Brunswick.

    Shannon Benjamin, BA, JD, Legal Counsel

    Shannon Benjamin has been Legal Counsel for the Public Trustee of New Brunswick since January 2022. She has a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Brunswick. Outside of work, Shannon acts as the Co-Chair of the Queer Heritage Initiative of New Brunswick (QHINB) and enjoys crocheting, Pilates, and spending time with her spouse and three cats.

Description

The Role of Social Workers in support of Public Trustee Services: will look in the final segment of the webinar series at the important role Social workers play in referring matters to Public Trustee services, in ensuring that PT clients are treated fairly and appropriately and reporting abuse and following up on abuse investigations to the full extent of the law. This session will also provide an update on ongoing projects and plans to improve Public Trustee Services and create stronger partnerships of care for all PT clients.

This webinar will focus on the Role of Social Workers in support of Public Trustee services. Following the presentation participants should have a good understanding of the important role Social workers play in referral to Public Trustee Services, in obtaining orders of representation under the SDMRA, of reporting and investigating abuse or neglect in respect of public Trustee Clients and in extending supports to children and adults with disabilities to ensure lesser reliance on PT services and seamless transitions to care in appropriate cases.