Nova Scotia lacks accurate caseload count for burdened social workers: official

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s Department of Community Services doesn’t have a clear picture of how many active cases involving children and families at risk its social workers are handling, a legislature committee was told Wednesday.

Shelley Bent James, an executive director with the department, told the public accounts committee that social workers manage on average 22.75 cases, but she added that number is inaccurate because it includes older cases for which paperwork hasn’t been completed.

“The number is indicative of cases that are current and cases where the investigations have been completed, but because of the administrative burden that social workers are under, they have not been able to go in and close out those files,” said Bent James.

She said the department is trying to reduce the social workers’ administrative tasks to give them more direct time with children, youth and families.

“We know that caseloads have risen and that cases have become more complex and we know we need to do more and be better,” Bent James said.

She said the department is conducting a pilot program that involves the use of support staff, known as paraprofessionals, who can assist social workers with paperwork and record keeping. 

As well, Bent James said the department currently has about 450 social workers and is developing a recruitment and retention plan to boost those numbers. About 25 new positions have been created in recent years to get to the current number she said, adding, “We can always use more.”

Following the meeting, Bent James told reporters that the department is beginning to introduce technological tools to help social workers with the paperwork. She said the Child Welfare League of America standard is an average of 16 to 20 cases per social worker, although that standard is now considered dated because of the increasing complexity of cases.

“We are above that, and we are working hard to close out those files,” she said.

Alec Stratford, registrar with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, watched the committee meeting from the sidelines after the NDP unsuccessfully tried to add him to the witness list. Stratford said he’s held his job for eight years and has been constantly surprised by the department’s inability to determine the number of cases it’s dealing with.

“I don’t understand why we don’t track,” he said. “The fact that we don’t have an accurate reading is problematic in terms of how we are planning and how we are determining what resources we’re putting into place.”

In a report released last week, provincial auditor general Kim Adair said the department lacked proper oversight of the province’s youth home and temporary care network.

She cited a lack of regular contact between children and social workers as most concerning, saying it affected staff’s ability to produce proper care plans.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2024.

Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press