B.C. facing child welfare social worker ‘crisis’: children’s representative

British Columbia’s children’s representative says child welfare social workers in the province are “in a state of crisis” and it will likely take a decade to fix things, even with committed efforts.

The latest report from Jennifer Charlesworth’s office describes an unhealthy work environment, characterized by stress, burnout and tragic public cases that have eroded the reputation of the Ministry of Children and Family Development as an attractive place to work.

The report says the ministry has taken steps to improve the situation, including by centralizing screening, establishing a mobile response team and enhancing recruitment, but the actions “have not apparently made a material difference.”

The 132-page report makes more than a dozen recommendations, including setting timelines for when they should be implemented.

They include calls for better training and pay, and public reporting of how actual staffing levels around the province compare with what is required.

Charlesworth is also repeating a long-standing call that dates back 30 years for mandatory legal professional regulation of child welfare workers to be in place by June 30, 2026, and a regulatory body created by April 2027.