What do Social Workers Do?

As part of the healthcare team, Social Workers make a contribution in a variety of areas.

For details on how a Social Worker may be able to help you or your loved one, please click on the links to the right.

Social Workers assist with:

planning and problem solving;
encouraging holistic approaches to client care;
assisting with conflict resolution;
program planning and implementation
developing therapeutic relationships with clients and families;
supporting client advocacy and organizing family support groups, family councils, resident councils, and co-ordination with other community services.

Social workers play a key role within Baycrest by:

Enhancing the quality of life of residents by striving to minimize institutional aspects within the facility and by counteracting the impact of helplessness, hopelessness, loneliness and boredom;
Dealing with interpersonal issues ranging from intimacy to aggression and violence;
Ensuring that residents' self-determination is safe-guarded to the extent possible through actively involving them in planning and decision-making;
Locating and arranging resources;
Helping resident's family members who are dealing with issues related to placement;
Dealing with palliative care and end-of-life issues both with the resident and with their family;
Providing expertise in geriatric consultation or other aspects of care relevant to the Baycrest mandate;
Supporting, developing or implementing innovative programs relevant to the facility's mandate;
Promoting a positive atmosphere and attitudes and playing a leadership role in counteracting stereotyping, stigmatization and discrimination;
Educating social work and allied health students and developing evidence based practice that integrates care with research and education.