The responsibilities of ministry social workers

When looking into a complaint, the main responsibility of a social worker from the Ministry of Children and Family Development is to keep children safe. Social workers try to keep families together if it's possible and in the best interests of the children.

While working with children and their families, ministry social workers should do the following:

• Regularly assess the risks to a child's safety during the ministry's involvement with a family
• Treat children with respect by listening to what they say and want
• Gather all the facts needed to keep children safe
• Avoid disrupting the lives of children and their families
• Find solutions that best fit the child's needs and well-being
• Help preserve a child's cultural, religious, and family identity
• Inform parents and children fully about their concerns, recommendations, plans, and reports

Ministry social workers must follow the law and consult with their superiors before making important decisions. They must also follow ministry policies and guidelines.

Ministry social workers must keep the identity of anyone who complains to them confidential (private). They must also inform the police of child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, and child sexual exploitation.

Confidentiality

The Ministry of Children and Family Development has broad powers of investigation when it follows up on concerns about parenting. If the ministry receives a report about you, you'll have limited confidentiality rights. To protect the rights you do have, get help from an advocate or lawyer as soon as you know about a complaint.

For more information on what the ministry can and can't reveal about your case, see Confidentiality issues.

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