Social Work

Social work

Social Workers provide counselling and services for your safety and well-being. They focus on short-term health care crisis intervention. Issues we may help you deal with include:

  • adjusting to illness
  • finances and financial assistance
  • housing problems
  • placement issues
  • caregiver issues
  • suspected adult abuse and neglect
  • palliative care/bereavement
  • confusion/dementia behaviour management
  • relationship issues
  • conflict resolution and mediation
  • advocacy 

How much does it cost?

This service is no charge for social work services.

For more information, please contact an Island Health Community Health Services office near you.

General Information on Social Work

Referral Required?
Not required
Additional Resources
BC Ministry of Health Home and Community Care

Learn About

News & Events

people walking from helicopter

Herculean effort supports cancer patients during Highway 4 wildfire closure 

The impact of the Cameron Lake wildfires and resulting Highway 4 closure on people living and working in Port Alberni, Tofino and other nearby communities has been immense, including those requiring specialized cancer care. Despite being cut off from the critical medical services they needed, the devoted cancer care teams at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) and BC Cancer – Victoria jumped into action to ensure cancer patients got the care they needed.

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temporary service interruption extended

Temporary Saanich Peninsula Hospital Emergency Department Service Hours Extended 

Due to ongoing physician recruitment challenges and to continue to support local residents with health-care service access they need during daytime and evening hours when the Saanich Peninsula Hospital (SPH) emergency department is busiest, Island Health is extending a temporary overnight closure of the emergency department.

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image of temporary service interruption

Temporary service interruption at Port Hardy Hospital emergency department

Due to a temporary shortage of nursing coverage, the Port Hardy Hospital (PHH) emergency department (ED) will be closed for the remainder of August 17, beginning immediately.

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