Complaints

The Discipline Process

When the complaint is referred to the Discipline Committee, the Committee holds a hearing. The parties at the hearing are:

• the registered social worker member
• members of the Discipline Committee
• legal counsel for the discipline Committee
• Legal counsel for the registered social worker

The member is notified in writing of the time and place for the hearing as well as the specific allegations with which the member is charged.

The Discipline Committee is composed of five members, four of whom are registered social workers and members of the Discipline Resource Pool. The fifth member of the committee is a public representative, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and who is not a social worker.

Hearings are usually located in the city of Regina. All efforts are made to schedule the hearing at a time that is mutually convenient to all parties.

The hearing is presided over by the Chair of the Discipline Committee who is appointed by the Council.

The Committee listens to the evidence presented to it and after the conclusion of the hearing the Committee meets in private to consider the evidence. The Committee must consider the relevant facts of the matter and may find that there is evidence to prove that the member is guilty of incompetence, misconduct, conduct unbecoming or in violation of the Code of Ethics. In the event there is a finding against the member, the Committee must consider sanctions that will be applied. When their decision has been made the Committee will prepare written reasons to support their decision.

These decisions may be made immediately after the hearing but if this is not possible, the Committee must arrange for a further meeting and come to a decision on the matter. When the decision and the reasons are prepared the member and the complainant are notified in writing.

If the Committee finds that the allegations have not been proved, then the complaint is dismissed.

If the Committee finds that the allegations have been proved in whole or in part, it may find that the member is guilty of incompetence, misconduct, conduct unbecoming or a violation of the Code of Ethics and impose one or more of the following sanctions:

• revoke the member's right to practice
• suspend the member's right to practice for a limited period of time
• impose undertakings, conditions and limitations on the member's right to practice
• reprimand or counsel the member
• revoke or suspend the member's right to practice in their specialty
• impose a fine
• publish the order of the Committee in the official publication of the Association and other provincial newspapers
• fix the costs of the proceedings to be paid by the member