What We Do
Under the Health Professions Act , the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) is mandated to carry out its regulatory functions which include: Professional Registration & Regulation, and Protecting the Public.
Social work is a valued profession. To find out more about social work please follow the links below.
What are the basic principles of social work?
Social workers believe:
- in the worth, dignity, and creativity of every human being;
- all people should have equal access to the resources, services and opportunities that one requires to promote their well-being; and
- that each person has the right to self-determination with due regard for the interest of others.
What are the goals of social work?
In accordance with these values, Social Work is committed to fostering human welfare through professional services. Social work practice focuses on the relationship among people and their environments. The social worker endeavors to:
- enhance the problem-solving and coping capacities of people;
- help people better use resources in their environment; and
- effect changes in society towards the social justice for all
What roles and skills do social workers have?
- Administration
- Investigation
- Advocacy
- Mediation
- Assessment
- Networking
- Brokering
- Planning
- Coordinating
- Policy Development
- Counseling
- Problem-Solving
- Consultation
- Supervision
- Education
- Research
- Evaluation
What are the areas of practice for social workers?
Social workers practice in a variety of settings or fields of practice, such as:
- Addictions
- Health Care
- Child and Family Services
- Mental Health
- Community Development
- Schools
- Corrections
- Social Planning
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Social Work Education
- Gerontology
- Vocational Assistance
- Youth Programs
Social Work is a helping profession. Professional social work practice may intervene to:
Social Work is a helping profession. Professional social work practice may intervene to:
- enhance developmental, problem solving and coping capacities of people and systems;
- promote effective and humane operation of systems that provide resources and service to people;
- link people to systems that provide them with resources, services and opportunities; and
- contribute to development and improvement of social policy.
Regulation
The Legislative committees include the Clinical Committee, the Competence Committee, the Professional Social Work Education Committee, the Registration Committee and the rosters for Hearing Tribunals and Complaint Review Committees. Appointments to these committees are made by Council. Members who are interested in these committees should indicate their interest on their annual review form or contact the appropriate staff member.
Protect the Public
Under the Health Professions Act (HPA), the first role of a regulatory college is to “carry out its activities and govern its regulated members in a manner that protects and serves the public interest”. To fulfill this role ACSW has adopted a professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice to help guide the professional activities of social workers in all types of practice. We have a continuing competence program which requires all members to maintain current practice knowledge and skills. Registered Social Workers in Alberta are accountable for their practice to their clients and to their profession. Complaints about a social worker acting in an unprofessional manner can be investigated by the ACSW to determine whether further action is required. For more information on the complaints and discipline process, click here.