Social Work

As employees of Dufferin-Peel, School Social Workers work with students and their families to address the social, behavioural, emotional and economic issues that affect students’ academic achievement and wellbeing. We work closely with students and parents to help the students attain success academically, socially and emotionally.

School Social work services can be accessed by contacting your child's teacher, administrator, guidance counselor, classroom teacher or your School Social Worker directly.

Ordinarily, school staff would contact parent(s)/guardian(s) to speak with them about how the School Social Worker can assist them and to seek agreement for social work contact. Once you agree, your Social Worker will contact you directly to acquire informed consent.

The School Social Worker will contact you to assess the situation and to develop a plan with you as to how to best intervene. School Social Workers are available to meet with you at the school, in your home or at a mutually convenient location.

Parents(s)/guardian(s) are often in the best position to help us understand the challenges that their child may be facing. Therefore, it is important that we speak to the parent/guardian to get their perception of their child’s strengths and needs.

School Social Work services are voluntary except in the case of persistent unexcused absences. For more detailed information on Provincial attendance expectations please click here.

Your consent allows for social work service including direct involvement with you and your child as well access to information contained in the Ontario Student Record (OSR). Consent is valid from the date you sign it until the end of the current school year. Information you share is kept confidential and is not accessed by any other party without your express consent. At the end of the school year a brief summary report is written outlining social work involvement and recommendations. Like all other personal information collected by your School Social Worker, these reports are confidential and can only be accessed with your written consent in accordance with PHIPA and Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers requirements.

In an effort to get a full understanding of how your child is functioning it may be necessary to speak with those who work most directly with your child such as your child’s classroom teacher, school administrator, guidance counselor or other school team members.

All Information shared with your School Social Worker is kept confidential unless express consent is provided to disclose this information to other parties. When your child meets with the School Social Worker, he/she will be assured privacy.

In situations where information shared indicates that a child or others may be put at risk, all Dufferin-Peel employees are required to report to the appropriate authority.

Your School Social Worker is available to consult on any issue that may be of concern and to assess whether further intervention is warranted.

School Social Workers meet with students and sometimes their families to talk about personal, social, family and school issues. Social Workers can help you understand the issues and look for ways to make things better. Click here for some common issues other students face.

School social work services can be accessed by speaking with your teacher, guidance counsellor, child and youth worker or by contacting your School Social Worker directly.

The School Social Worker may want to speak with you if your parent/guardian or someone at the school is concerned about you. Whether you’re feeling sad, confused, angry or upset, the School Social Worker can help you. Also if there is a concern about your attendance the School Social Worker will want to speak with you.

No. School Social Work services are voluntary except in the case of persistent unexcused absences. For more detailed information on Provincial attendance expectations please click Education Act - Attendance Information.

If you are over 16 you will be asked to sign a consent form. Your parent(s)/guardian(s) must sign on your behalf if you are under 16. Your consent allows the School Social Worker to meet with you directly and to access information contained in your Ontario Student Record (OSR). Consent is valid from the date signed until the end of the current school year. Information you share is kept confidential and is not accessed by any other party without express consent. At the end of the school year a brief summary report is written outlining social work involvement and recommendations. Like all other personal information collected by your School Social Worker, these reports are confidential and can only be accessed with written consent.

In an effort to get a full understanding of how you are doing it may be important to speak with those who are directly involved with you such as your parent/guardian, teacher(s), school administrator and/or guidance counselor.

All Information shared with your School Social Worker is kept confidential unless express consent is provided to disclose this information to other parties. When you meet with the School Social Worker, you will be assured that your information is kept confidential.

If you are under 16 and information is shared indicating that you or others may be at risk, all Dufferin-Peel employees are required to report to the appropriate authority. For more information on confidentiality and consent click here.