Social workers are paid by health services, i.e. hospitals. In our region, this is the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux, or CIUSSS de l'Estrie. Confidentiality is a basic principle. So there are built-in barriers. Social workers cannot reveal everything to the police. They must therefore remain employees of the health services to maintain their access to information. That is why they are paid by health services. Some police organizations pay their social workers, but we do not.
On December 7th, 2020. See this statement in context.