Our Role

Social Workers help patients who are experiencing mental or physical health problems to cope with their social, emotional and practical concerns. Working together with individuals and their families, we provide a range of counselling services, community information and referral as well as discharge planning. What differentiates social workers from other professionals is our focus on the social context of clients’ lives and on the resources available to help resolve their problems.


Who We Are

All Social Workers at Queensway Carleton Hospital have a Master’s Degree in Social Work (M.S.W.) and are registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (R.S.W.).


Where We Are Located

We can be found in all areas of the hospital – Medical and Surgical units, Intensive Care, Acute Care of the Elderly, Alternate Level of Care (ALC), Rehabilitation, Transition to Home Program, , Mental Health, Emergency, Childbirth Centre, Out-Patient clinics and Geriatric Day Hospital. Most Social Workers have office space located in the areas in which they work.


When To Contact a Social Worker

You may wish to speak with a Social Worker if you are a Queensway Carleton Hospital patient and are experiencing any of the following:

  • Concerns about your mental, emotional or physical health
  • Difficulty coping with your present diagnosis/illness Caregiver stress
  • Isolation and loneliness
  • Family conflict
  • A recent loss/death, separation/divorce
  • Emotional, physical, sexual or financial abuse
  • A traumatic life event
  • Difficulty managing in your present living situation
  • Hardship regarding housing or finances
  • Substance abuse issues (alcohol and/or drugs)


Services We Provide

Social Workers provide a number of services including:

  • Emotional support to individuals and families
  • Caregiver support
  • Crisis intervention and short-term counselling
  • Individual, marital and family therapy
  • Counselling related to grief, illness and disability
  • Information regarding housing and financial support services
  • Information and referral to community resources
  • Discharge Planning - through our Home First approach to discharge planning, QCH works with community services to support patients to return home following an acute care stay. Social workers work with the health care team, patient and family to determine a patient’s ability to return home safely. They may recommend alternative programs or community services to assist with the transition home and will help coordinate arrangement of services if needed.


Home First

The Hospital is here to meet your needs during times of acute illness or need for surgery. Your ongoing needs for care and recovery are best met at home. Working with community partners our Home First approach to discharge planning is about making every effort to support patients to return home after their hospital stay.
From the day you arrive at the Hospital and as you are getting better the Health Care Team is planning for your safe return home.You and your caregivers play a role in these plans as well and together we will plan for your discharge from Hospital to home. The Health Care Team is here to help you plan for the community services and supports that will help with your transition home.
For patients with complex needs, the Social Worker / Discharge Planner is the primary contact for this purpose while you are in the Hospital. She/he will assist you in planning for your return home and in arranging services and supports as required. If your Health Care Team says you could benefit from rehabilitation services or that you should think about different long term arrangements, you can still go home and wait for those arrangements to be put in place. Being at home is better for you.
At home…

  • you can recover in your comfortable and familiar environment with the support of family and friends;
  • you may receive support from community agencies as needed;
  • you have more time to make plans for your future care if necessary;
  • you reduce the risk of losing strength from lack of mobility in hospital;
  • you are at reduced risk of contracting hospital acquired infections;
  • you can continue to regain strength through participating in your usual activities;
  • you are more likely to maintain or improve your ability to perform your daily activities.


The goal of Home First is to assist you to access the supports you need to help you return home. Your Health Care Team will work with you to achieve this goal. If you have any questions about returning home, please speak with the Social Worker on your unit.

Confidentiality Policy

All patient/family information will be confidential as per hospital privacy and confidentiality policies, understanding that, in the provision of care, it may be shared with other involved health professionals. Concerns about confidentiality may be discussed with your individual social worker.



How to Contact a Social Worker

Any member of your healthcare team may contact us on your behalf or you may call the main Social Work office at 613-721-4700, extension 3751.