Good news: Social Workers will NOT be excluded as Care Coordinators

On Friday afternoon, September 18, after months of meetings and lobbying on behalf of social workers, representatives from the Ministry of Health informed ONA that it was not the intent of the government to exclude social workers from working as care coordinators under the new home care regulation that is being drafted.

As you may know, Bill 175 – Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020 – has passed but has not yet been proclaimed. Accompanying Bill 175, much of the content of the existing legislation – Home Care and Community Services Act, 1994 – will be incorporated into regulation, which is being drafted but is not finalized.

The draft proposals for the regulation that the Ministry has been consulting on stated that only regulated health professionals under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) would be able to practice as care coordinators. The government tells ONA this is a drafting error and that it is not the government’s intent. Rather, the government intends to say registered health professional, not regulated health professional.

The government will be consulting on the language of the regulation over the next few months and a formal posting for further consultation will take place likely in the new year.

In addition, we have a commitment from the government to work with ONA in the transition once the regulation is finalized and in effect.

Thank you to the members who have held rallies and met or communicated with your local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to voice your concerns. Your actions have made a difference. We have more to do but our first hurdle has been overcome.