NBASW is disheartened to learn of the findings in the New Brunswick Seniors Advocate's “Death by System” Report. It is imperative that adequate solutions be put in place to meet the urgent needs of adults and seniors in the province.

An increase in resources is needed to implement structural changes. Social workers work to ensure seniors' safety and protection while facing a high volume of urgent cases. Government should increase resources dedicated to adult and senior services, notably additional social work technician roles. Social work technicians can take on case coordination, system navigation, client follow-ups, and administrative support, allowing social workers to focus on clinical assessments, intervention planning, and complex case management.

Addressing the challenges identified in the report requires professional expertise and evidence-informed decision-making. Social workers have the education, ethical framework, and clinical competencies needed to evaluate complex social circumstances and determine appropriate interventions for older adults. The Department of Social Development should allow and empower social workers to practice within their full scope of practice by making clinical decisions related to seniors’ care with fewer constraints to meet their needs.

Lastly, the governance structure must include a clear accountability mechanism between regional offices and the central office. It should also ensure that social work professionals serve as key decision-makers on leadership teams at both the regional and provincial levels. Accountability is most effective when systems are designed by professionals with the expertise to identify the needs of vulnerable New Brunswickers and determine the supports required to help them. Social workers are once again asking why Social Development does not have a designated social worker position within its executive management team that sets the direction of social services for the province, as all other departments do? Now is the time for Social Development to add a Chief Social Work Officer to its Executive Leadership Team.

NBASW is committed to addressing long-term issues with realistic, effective solutions and looks forward to meeting with the Minister of Seniors and the Seniors Advocate to discuss ways to achieve meaningful outcomes for New Brunswick’s aging population.