Closing the Accountability Gap: Why Social Work and Professional Registration Matter

Social Workers are professionals who promote well-being, social justice, and human rights. Guided by a code of ethics, they work with people, families, and communities in many areas of life, including education, health, income, housing, and other social systems. They also work at the systems level to address the root causes of oppression. At the heart of social work practice is a belief in the dignity and worth of all people, along with a commitment to equity and social justice. Social work has a critical role to play in systems across BC, providing holistic, evidence-based support that meets people’s needs and enhances well-being.

Social work became a regulated profession in BC in 1969. Before regulation, people without formal training could call themselves Social Workers, and there was no way to address unethical practice. In 2008, the Social Workers Act came into effect, and the British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW) was created. The Act limits the use of the title “Social Worker” to people who meet registration requirements or who work for exempt employers. Anyone using the title “Registered Social Worker” must hold an accredited Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work and complete yearly professional development. At Inclusion BC, we believe Registered Social Workers play a key role in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities access the supports and services they need and deserve.

It is also important to recognize the profession’s contribution to past and ongoing harm experienced by Indigenous peoples. This includes involvement in residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and harmful child welfare practices. In 2019, the Canadian Association of Social Workers issued a Statement of Apology and Commitment to Reconciliation. It acknowledges that Western values continue to justify the removal of Indigenous children from their families and communities. The Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics requires Social Workers to pursue truth and reconciliation, respect the rights of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, acknowledge Indigenous worldviews, and practice cultural humility. Ongoing efforts to decolonize social work education, standards, and accountability systems are essential. These efforts must respect and value Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

In the past, Community Social Workers often worked as generalists. Their roles included prevention, early intervention, assessment, planning, counselling, advocacy, capacity-building, and helping people navigate systems. Social Workers are well-positioned to provide holistic, relationship-based support. This support helps people with disabilities access services, participate fully in their communities, and enjoy a good quality of life. Over time, however, cost-cutting and efficiency-driven policies have fragmented service delivery. This has created narrow, task-focused roles such as Community Living BC (CLBC) Facilitators, Children and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN) Workers, and Guardianship Workers. These roles often prefer employees with social work backgrounds, but professional registration is not required. As a result, staff in these roles hold significant power over people’s lives without the training, oversight, and accountability required of Registered Social Workers.

This gap has real impacts on the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through Inclusion BC’s Individualized Advocacy Program, we regularly hear from people who struggle to access services and navigate complex systems. Today’s service demands increasingly call for strong advocacy and coordinated, culturally safe, wraparound supports. These skills, along with a holistic, client-centred approach, are central to social work practice.

The BC Association of Social Workers has called for the removal of registration exemptions under the Social Workers Act and Regulations. The Act currently allows Social Workers to practice without registration if they work for exempt employers, such as the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and Community Living BC (CLBC). While some Social Workers choose to register voluntarily, these exemptions limit accountability and public protection. Complaint reviews and disciplinary processes do not apply, even when practice may violate the BCCSW Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. In acknowledging the need for strong oversight, Inclusion BC also recognizes the importance of fair and accessible pathways to registration, especially for people who face multiple, intersecting barriers to becoming Registered Social Workers.

To build a skilled and accountable workforce, ongoing funding for Registered Social Workers is critical. Inclusion BC believes that improving access to Registered Social Workers across community-based services and services delivered or funded by government helps to protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in BC.